Research on the path and mechanism of enterprise strategic transformation in the context of industrial internet: Based on HeXie management theory

As the industry convergence has been accelerated by the development of digital intelligence technology, the support from relevant national policies and the normalization of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control, the industrial internet construction has represented the general trend, bringing new opportunities and challenges for enterprises. From a practical point of view, a large number of enterprises are facing transformation dilemmas and have an urgent need for corresponding solutions. From a theoretical point of view, there is few systematic and thematic research on the path process of enterprise strategic transformation, and the coupling process of transformation mechanism also needs to be improved. Therefore, this paper intends to deeply analyze the path and mechanism model of enterprise strategic transformation in the context of industrial internet from a process-oriented perspective. On the basis of theoretical sampling and the principle of convenience, this paper takes Ouyeel which has relatively successful experience of strategic transformation in the context of industrial internet as the research object. To start with, based on relevant literature review and HeXie management theory, the paper constructs a strategic transformation path through logical deduction as the main logical line of subsequent analysis. Then, with the data analysis method of text analysis and coding, the original data is gradually labeled, conceptualized, and categorized to summarize the enterprise′s strategic transformation mechanism model. Next, through the longitudinal case study, the paper has thoroughly analyzed the similarities and differences of the mechanism connotation and coupling model of the case enterprise in different thematic stages to generate a dynamic coupling mechanism, thus building a path and mechanism model of enterprise strategic transformation in the context of industrial internet. According to the research, Ouyeel has gone through a three-stage iterative evolution with the topic of “platform-based business, intelligent operation, and ecological service” respectively. Through the establishment of strategic transformation mechanisms including platform empowerment mechanism, digital connection mechanism, customer-oriented mechanism, and mind remodeling mechanism as well as the three patterns of dynamic coupling, the company has realized the strategic transformation from offline to online service, from business orientation to service orientation, and from zero-sum game to ecological win-win development. Research conclusions are mainly divided into the following three aspects. Firstly, the strategic transformation of enterprises is a dynamic iterative process with different stages following the path of “driving factors analysis, theme identification, mechanism establishment and dynamic coupling”. Secondly, the strategic transformation of enterprises in the context of industrial internet has experienced the theme drift process of “organizational level, industrial level, and ecological level”, which is also a gradual expansion process from “enterprise, industry chain to industry ecology”. Thirdly, in the theme drift process of different stages, the coupling approach of Xie principle mechanism and He principle mechanism has undergone the transformation process of “regulative coupling, interactive coupling and initiative coupling”, finally realizing the dynamic balance of independent evolution under limited interventions. Research contributions can be summarized as the following three aspects. Firstly, the research has completed the process (including path and mechanism) study of strategic transformation in the context of industrial internet, and made up for some limitations such as the lack of holistic and thematic thinking and the single analysis dimension of transformation mechanism. Secondly, the paper proposes three forms of dynamic coupling of mechanisms, and expands the research on the process of coupling among strategic transformation mechanisms and the application of HeXie management theory, making abstract concepts more concrete and comprehensible. Thirdly, the paper has established a path and mechanism model of enterprise strategic transformation in the context of industrial internet, providing guidance for enterprises that are undergoing or planning a strategic transformation in the industrial internet practice.