Innovation performance feedback and digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises

From the perspective of corporate behaviour theory, utilising data from A-share manufacturing listed companies in China from 2007 to 2021, this article examines the mechanisms and relationships between the gap in expected innovation performance and the extent of digital transformation responsiveness in manufacturing enterprises. The research shows that an increase in the gap of expected innovation performance leads to dynamic changes in corporate transformation motivation and capabilities, causing the degree of corporate digital transformation responsiveness to first increase and then decrease, presenting an inverted U-shaped relationship. Further research reveals that companies with political connections will have weaker digital transformation responsiveness under the gap in expected innovation performance, while market competition strengthens the relationship between the gap in expected innovation performance and the degree of digital transformation response.