Unpacking the sustainable performance in the business ecosystem: Coopetition strategy, open innovation, and digitalization capability

Abstract

This study aims to examine the mediating role of open innovation and the moderating effect of digitalization capabilities in the relationship between coopetition strategy and sustainable performance in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which offers a coopetitive climate and is the most widely recognized business ecosystem. We conducted an empirical analysis using the partial least squares (PLS) structural equation model (SEM) based on 520 firm datasets from multiple hubs of BRI. The results show that open innovation partially mediates the relationship between coopetition strategy and sustainable performance. The results also indicate that digitalization capability significantly moderates the relationship between coopetition strategy and open innovation. However, there was insignificant moderating effect between coopetition strategy and sustainable performance of digitization capability. We believe that our research, which is based on the dynamic capability perspective, provides a structured perspective and understanding of how and why coopetition strategy, open innovation, and digitalization capabilities can be leveraged to achieve a firm's sustainable performance in the BRI.