Impact of digital platform capability on innovation performance: the serial mediation effects of external knowledge search and resource bricolage

Purpose In the era of the digital economy, digital platform capability plays an important role in the process of firm digitization. This study aims to investigate the relationships among digital platform capability and innovation performance from the perspective of external knowledge search and resource bricolage. Design/methodology/approach This study uses the hierarchical regression and bootstrapping methods to test the theoretical framework and research hypotheses. The survey data were collected from 629 Chinese firms. Findings This study finds that digital platform capability has a significant positive effect on innovation performance; external knowledge search and resource bricolage both play partial mediating roles between digital platform capability and innovation performance. There exist the serial mediation effects of “digital platform capability – external knowledge search – resource bricolage – innovation performance”. Originality/value The conclusion of this study can expand the research on digital platform capability, reveal the internal mechanism of digital platform capability in firm innovation and provide ideas and inspiration for firms to improve innovation performance and realise high-quality development.