【论文信息】

Wang F Q, Jiang J H, Chen W. Unveiling the prototypes and pathways of data-driven business model innovation: A configurational study based on digital economy firms in China[J/OL]. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 2026.  DOI: 10.1016/j.jik.2026.101095.

【作者信息】

第一作者：王烽权，重庆工商大学工商管理学院副教授，研究方向：数智创新与商业模式;

第二作者(通讯作者)：江积海，重庆大学经济与工商管理学院教授，研究方向：战略管理、创新创业;

第三作者：陈伟，重庆工商大学工商管理学院教授，研究方向：技术创新管理。

【期刊简介】

《Journal of Innovation & Knowledge》(简称JIK)是SSCI收录期刊、中科院管理学1区期刊(2025年分区)，JCR Q1区。

【基金支持】

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant NO 72502027), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant NO 72672017), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant NO 72272019), Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (Grant NO 2026NSCQ-GPX4387).

【论文摘要】

In the era of the digital economy, firms need data-driven business model innovation to acquire sustainable competitive advantages. Existing studies have not viewed data-driven business model innovation as a complex system, thus failing to identify its prototypes and pathways holistically and systematically. To this end, drawing on the theory of data network effects, we capture its core connotation of “data-business synergy,” decompose data-driven business model innovation into the key dimensions of big data (5Vs: volume, variety, velocity, veracity, and value) and the key value drivers of business model innovation (novelty and efficiency), and apply a configurational approach, namely fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), to investigate this issue. The study involves a configurational analysis of 108 digital economy firms in China. The findings suggest that there are two configurations with high-value outcomes, which are labelled as the prototypes of data-driven business model innovation: Data-Supported Business Model Innovation and Data-Led Business Model Innovation. Furthermore, based on typical case studies, their pathways are respectively identified as Data-Supported Differentiation and Data-Led Expansion. Each pathway includes three interrelated steps that form a virtuous circle. In contrast, the three configurations with not-high-value outcomes are collectively labelled as Business Model Innovation Deficient in Data-Business Synergy. Our study, anchored in the broader field of innovation management, not only complements research on the prototypes and pathways of data-driven business model innovation, but also enriches the theoretical connotation of data network effects as well as the research methods of business models.