How can firms achieve sustainable high growth? A case study based on the integrating orchestration of digital elements and traditional resources

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to analyze the paths and mechanisms of firms’ sustainable high growth. Firms’ high growth is susceptible to interruption, stagnation or reversal. Thus, how firms can achieve sustainable high growth is an important topic that requires urgent discussion and has significant implications for sustainable economic development and employment. Design/methodology/approach This study applies a longitudinal case study approach to portray the process by which Jiashu orchestrated digital elements with traditional resources to continuously fulfill their user demands and ultimately achieve sustainable high growth. Findings This study reveals three resource orchestration strategies: trust-oriented, demand-oriented and efficiency-oriented. These strategies are adopted in an organization’s startup, expansion and maturity periods, respectively. By dynamically integrating and orchestrating digital elements with traditional resources, firms implement a growth strategy with expanding and stacking dimensions, leading to sustainable high growth. The replicability and connectivity resulting from orchestrating digital elements and traditional resources encourage firms to expand their dimensions of growth and achieve sustainable high growth in multiple dimensions. Research limitations/implications This study conducts a preliminary exploration of the relationship between the integration of digital and traditional elements and the sustainable high growth of enterprises. A more stable theoretical relationship between the two requires further multi-case studies and empirical analysis for substantiation. Originality/value This study first clarifies the concept of sustainable high growth and reveals a unique nonlinear path characterized by growth with expanding and stacking dimensions. The findings contribute to deepening the theories of sustainable high growth and resource orchestration in the digital economy era and offer practical implications for the sustainable high-growth practices of firms.