Business model innovation from a human resource empowerment perspective: research on business ecosystem construction of Chinese enterprises

This research investigates how human resource empowerment influences business model innovation and business ecosystem construction in Chinese enterprises. Adopting a mixed-methods approach integrating case studies of Huawei, Alibaba, and Haier with a survey of 213 Chinese enterprises, the study examines the mechanisms through which human resource empowerment practices contribute to ecosystem development. The findings reveal that human resource empowerment positively affects business ecosystem construction both directly (β = 0.297) and indirectly through business model innovation (β = 0.163). Among the dimensions of empowerment, developmental empowerment demonstrates the strongest influence on ecosystem construction (β = 0.358), while psychological empowerment most significantly impacts business model innovation (β = 0.386). Digital maturity enhances the relationship between human resource empowerment and ecosystem construction, while institutional support strengthens the translation of business model innovations into ecosystem development. The case studies illustrate how different empowerment forms support distinct ecosystem strategies while revealing implementation challenges. This research contributes to management theory by addressing a critical gap through demonstrating how human resource empowerment creates microfoundations for ecosystem capabilities, extending beyond the traditional technological focus. The findings emphasize the strategic importance of aligning human resource empowerment approaches with ecosystem objectives and integrating human and technological capabilities for sustainable business ecosystem development.