Enhancing Digital Innovation Ecosystem Resilience through the Interplay of Organizational, Technological, and Environmental Factors: A Study of 31 Provinces in China Using NCA and fsQCA

Abstract

Digital innovation ecosystems are currently experiencing a period of growth and are navigating uncertain environments. Improving resilience is an important prerequisite for ensuring sustainable developments. This study, based on the technology, organization, and environment (TOE) framework, examines the impact of multilevel antecedent conditions on digital innovation ecosystem resilience using data from 31 Chinese provinces. By applying a necessary condition analysis (NCA) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), this study reveals complex causal relationships between five antecedents at the “technology–organization–environment” levels and digital innovation ecosystem resilience, along with the improvement paths of digital innovation ecosystem resilience. The results show the following: Firstly, individual antecedent conditions alone do not constitute necessary conditions for high or non-high digital innovation ecosystem resilience. Secondly, there are five configuration paths leading to high digital innovation ecosystem resilience, namely, a digital technology-enabled organization–environment-driven type (H1a), an organization–environment dual-wheel-driven type (H1b), a digital technology-led environment-driven type (H2), a technology–organization–environment trilateral type (H3), and a pressure–organization-driven type (H4). Thirdly, three configuration paths result in non-high digital innovation ecosystem resilience, exhibiting an asymmetric relationship with paths associated with the configuration paths of high digital innovation ecosystem resilience. Finally, potential substitution relationships exist among antecedent conditions at the technological, organizational, and environmental levels.