Publication Type

PhD Dissertation

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

3-2026

Abstract

With the continuous advancement of digital technologies, the digital economy is increasingly becoming the dominant force in the global economic landscape. Against this backdrop, the digital transformation of China's specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative (SRDI) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has transcended beyond mere technological upgrades and evolved into a crucial strategy for these enterprises to build core competitiveness. Despite SRDI SMEs' strong willingness to pursue digital transformation, research is still lacking on how digital transformation efforts translate into international competitiveness Additionally, existing studies on the degree of digitalization have focused on large enterprises or general SMEs, leaving an academic gap in researching SRDI SMEs. Therefore, based on the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic managerial capability (DMC) theory, this study focuses on the intrinsic mechanism between digital transformation and the construction of international competitive advantages among Chinese SRDI SMEs amid the global digital economy wave. By introducing exploratory innovation as a mediating variable and DMC as a moderating variable, this study has constructed a conceptual model linking the degree of digitalization to international competitive advantages. The study explores in depth how digitalization influences SRDI SMEs' international competitiveness, aiming to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for their internationalization.

This study employed a sample of 870 listed SRDI SMEs. Their financial indicators, corporate governance characteristics, and overseas business performance data from 2011 to 2024 were obtained from the CSMAR Database to measure international competitiveness. Annual reports of all sample enterprises from 2010 to 2023 were collected from the CNINFO website for assessing digital transformation level and DMC. Patent output data of the sample enterprises was sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS) to characterize exploratory innovation. Finally, empirical analysis yielded the following conclusions: (1) The improvement of digital transformation has a positive promoting effect on the construction of international competitiveness; (2) Exploratory innovation plays a mediating role in the theoretical path between digital transformation and international competitiveness; (3) DMC exerts a positive moderating effect both between digital transformation and exploratory innovation, and in the entire theoretical path of "digital transformation-exploratory innovation-international competitiveness."

This study reveals the theoretical path between SRDI SMEs' digital transformation and international competitiveness, as well as the specific role of DMC in this path. It not only fills the research gap in the digitalization and internationalization of SRDI SMEs, deepens the transmission mechanism of "digitalization-exploratory innovation-international competitiveness," extends the application of DMC in the digital context, and supplements research samples from enterprises in developing countries, but also provides theoretical and practical guidance for SRDI SMEs on how they scientifically formulate digital strategies and promote the transformation of digitalization into international competitiveness.

Keywords

digital transformation, exploratory innovation, international competitiveness, dynamic managerial capability

Degree Awarded

Doctor of Business Administration (Accounting and Finance)

Discipline

International Business | Strategic Management Policy

Supervisor(s)

PAN, Shan Chi

First Page

1

Last Page

224

Publisher

Singapore Management University

City or Country

Singapore

Copyright Owner and License

Author

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