Digital knowledge management effect on enterprise technological innovation: an empirical study from China’s manufacturing industry

ABSTRACT

With digital technology permeating across the layers of businesses, digital knowledge management has emerged, transforming the means through which companies acquire, integrate, share, and innovatively apply knowledge. However, the specific impact of digital knowledge management on corporate technological innovation remains unclear. Based on dynamic capabilities theory, this study delves into how digital knowledge management influences corporate technological innovation. Analyzing data from manufacturing companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2007 to 2021, this study confirms that digital knowledge management significantly and positively affects corporate technological innovation by enhancing a company's absorptive capacity, adaptability, and innovation ability. Based on the findings, this study suggests that companies should leverage digital knowledge management to acquire and integrate external innovative resources, seek cooperation opportunities with external stakeholders, and jointly build a mutually beneficial innovation knowledge network, thereby boosting technological innovation capabilities. Additionally, companies should encourage employees to learn digital technologies and create a culture conducive to learning and innovation.

KEYWORDS:

• Digital knowledge management
• technological innovation
• dynamic capability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bing Shao

Bing Shao, PhD student of the School of Business Administration of Northeast University, associate professor of the School of Economics and Management of Hainan Normal University, research direction: digital economy and technological innovation.

Xianming Kuang

Xianming Kuang, Vice President of China (Hainan) Institute of Reform and Development, professor, Ph.D. supervisor, Ph.D. in economics, research direction: China’s economic transformation.

Hui Wang

Hui Wang, associate professor of Hainan University, Ph.D. in economics, research direction: digital trade.