Promoting Firm Growth Performance Through Digital Finance: Empirical Insights from Chinese Manufacturing Enterpriseserprisese Manufacturing Enterprises

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65514/h5jahe19

Keywords:

Digital finance, Entrepreneurial opportunities, Inefficient investment, Firm growth performance, Big data analytics capabilities

Abstract

Digital financial tools have emerged as essential for

enterprises, playing a pivotal role in alleviating financing constraints,

improving resource allocation efficiency, and transforming innovation

and development patterns. However, there is limited research on how

digital finance (DF) affects a company's growth performance. This article

develops a theoretical framework of "digital finance-entrepreneurial

opportunities-inefficient investment-firm growth performance" based on

the resource-based view. Using data from a survey of 302 Chinese

manufacturing enterprises, it examines the moderating role of big data

analysis capabilities. The results showed that: (1) DF has a positive effect

on enterprise growth performance; (2) Entrepreneurial opportunities and

inefficient investment mediate the relationship between DF and growth;

and (3) Big data analytics capabilities strengthen the positive impact of

DF on entrepreneurial opportunities and increase its negative effect on

inefficient investment. This research provides insights into how variables

are measured and explores mechanisms within the realms of DF and

entrepreneurial opportunities. It broadens the application of DF,

entrepreneurial opportunities, and inefficient investment in the context of

enterprise growth. Additionally, it aims to offer valuable decision-making

guidance for enterprises striving to improve their growth outcomes

Author Biographies

  • Pingping Lu, Chongqing Technology and Business University

    a graduate student in Business Administration at Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, China. 

  • Bing Xia, Chongqing Technology and Business University

    a graduate student in Business Administration at Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, China. 

  • Wanting Deng, Chongqing Technology and Business University

    a undergraduate student in Business Administration at Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, China.

  • Lucille Aba Abruquah, Research Global, Accra, Ghana.

    Research Global, Accra, Ghana. She received her PhD in management from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. 

References

1.Abdulsaleh, A. M., & Worthington, A. C. (2013). Small and medium-sized enterprises financing: A review of literature. International Journal of Business and management, 8(14), 36. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v8n14p36

2.Ahmed, M., Choudhury, N., & Uddin, S. (2017). Anomaly detection on big data in financial markets. Proceedings of the 2017 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining 2017,

3.Ai, Y., Sun, G., & Kong, T. (2023). Digital finance and stock price crash risk. International Review of Economics & Finance, 88, 607–619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2023.07.003

4.Akter, S., Wamba, S. F., Gunasekaran, A., Dubey, R., & Childe, S. J. (2016). How to improve firm performance using big data analytics capability and business strategy alignment? International Journal of Production Economics, 182, 113–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2016.08.018

5.Andriushchenko, K., Buriachenko, A., Rozhko, O., Lavruk, O., Skok, P., Hlushchenko, Y., Muzychka, Y., Slavina, N., Buchynska, O., & Kondarevych, V. (2020). Peculiarities of sustainable development of enterprises in the context of digital transformation. Entrepreneurship and sustainability issues, 7(3), 2255. https://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2020.7.3(53)

6.Awan, U., Shamim, S., Khan, Z., Zia, N. U., Shariq, S. M., & Khan, M. N. (2021). Big data analytics capability and decision-making: The role of data-driven insight on circular economy performance. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 168, 120766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120766

7.Azouzi, M., & Anis, J. (2012). CEO emotional bias and investment decision, Bayesian network method. Management Science Letters, 2(4), 1259–1278. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2012.02.012

8.Benlemlih, M., & Bitar, M. (2018). Corporate social responsibility and investment efficiency. Journal of business ethics, 148, 647–671. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2566891

9.Bhatti, S. H., Hussain, W. M. H. W., Khan, J., Sultan, S., & Ferraris, A. (2024). Exploring data-driven innovation: What’s missing in the relationship between big data analytics capabilities and supply chain innovation? Annals of Operations Research, 333(2), 799–824. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-022-04772-7

10.Bose, I., & Mahapatra, R. K. (2001). Business data mining—a machine learning perspective. Information & Management, 39(3), 211–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-7206(01)00091-x

11.Cao, S., Nie, L., Sun, H., Sun, W., & Taghizadeh-Hesary, F. (2021). Digital finance, green technological innovation and energy-environmental performance: Evidence from China's regional economies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 327, 129458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129458

12.Casson, M. (1982). The entrepreneur: An economic theory. Martin Robertson.

13.Chen, H., Chiang, R. H., & Storey, V. C. (2012). Business intelligence and analytics: From big data to big impact. MIS quarterly, 1165–1188. https://doi.org/10.2307/41703503

14.Chen, S., Li, Z., Han, B., & Ma, H. (2021). Managerial ability, internal control and investment efficiency. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 31, 100523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2021.100523

15.Coad, A., Segarra, A., & Teruel, M. (2016). Innovation and firm growth: does firm age play a role? Research Policy, 45(2), 387–400. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2276414

16.Companys, Y. E., & McMullen, J. S. (2007). Strategic Entrepreneurs at Work: The Nature, Discovery, and Exploitation of Entrepreneurial Opportunities. Small Business Economics, 28(4), 301–322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-006-9034-x

17.Demertzis, M., Merler, S., & Wolff, G. B. (2018). Capital markets union and the fintech opportunity. Journal of financial regulation, 4(1), 157–165. https://doi.org/10.1093/jfr/fjx012

18.Dierickx, I., & Cool, K. (1989). Asset stock accumulation and sustainability of competitive advantage. Management science, 35(12), 1504–1511. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198781806.003.0013

19.Dong-mei, J., & Yan, F. (2018). The Effects of Dual-Class Share Structures on Inefficient Investment. Commercial Research, 60(10), 108.

20.Durai, T., & Stella, G. (2019). Digital finance and its impact on financial inclusion. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, 6(1), 122–127.

21.Ekadjaja, A., & Wijaya, A. (2021). Factors affecting firm performance in manufacturing companies in Indonesia stock exchange. Jurnal Akuntansi, 25(1), 154–167. https://doi.org/10.24912/ja.v25i1.730

22.Feng, G., & Zhang, M. (2021). A literature review on digital finance, consumption upgrading and high-quality economic development. Journal of Risk Analysis and Crisis Response, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.54560/jracr.v11i4.312

23.Feng, S., Zhang, R., & Li, G. (2022). Environmental decentralization, digital finance and green technology innovation. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 61, 70–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strueco.2022.02.008

24.Ferraris, A., Mazzoleni, A., Devalle, A., & Couturier, J. (2019). Big data analytics capabilities and knowledge management: impact on firm performance. Management Decision, 57(8), 1923–1936. https://doi.org/10.1108/md-07-2018-0825

25.Gao, X., Xu, W., Li, D., & Xing, L. (2021). Media coverage and investment efficiency. Journal of Empirical Finance, 63, 270–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jempfin.2021.07.002

26.Gomber, P., Koch, J.-A., & Siering, M. (2017a). Digital Finance and FinTech: current research and future research directions. Journal of Business Economics, 87, 537–580.

27.Gomber, P., Koch, J.-A., & Siering, M. (2017b). Digital Finance and FinTech: current research and future research directions. Journal of business economics, 87(5), 537–580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-017-0852-x

28.Guo, F., Wang, J., Wang, F., Kong, T., Zhang, X., & Cheng, Z. (2020). Measuring China’s digital financial inclusion: Index compilation and spatial characteristics. China Economic Quarterly, 19(4), 1401–1418. https://doi.org/10.13821/j.cnki.ceq.2020.03.12

29.Gupta, M., & George, J. F. (2016). Toward the development of a big data analytics capability. Information & Management, 53(8), 1049–1064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2016.07.004

30.Gupta, S., Drave, V. A., Dwivedi, Y. K., Baabdullah, A. M., & Ismagilova, E. (2020). Achieving Superior Organizational Performance via Big Data Predictive Analytics: A Dynamic Capability View. Industrial Marketing Management, 90(3), 581–592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2019.11.009

31.Habeeb, R. A. A., Nasaruddin, F., Gani, A., Hashem, I. A. T., Ahmed, E., & Imran, M. (2019). Real-time big data processing for anomaly detection: A survey. International Journal of Information Management, 45, 289–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2018.08.006

32.Hao, S., Zhang, H., & Song, M. (2019). Big data, big data analytics capability, and sustainable innovation performance. Sustainability, 11(24), 7145. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11247145

33.Harrison, J. S., Hitt, M. A., Hoskisson, R. E., & Ireland, R. D. (1991). Synergies and post-acquisition performance: Differences versus similarities in resource allocations. Journal of management, 17(1), 173–190. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700111

34.Helfat, C. E., & Martin, J. A. (2015). Dynamic managerial capabilities: Review and assessment of managerial impact on strategic change. Journal of management, 41(5), 1281–1312. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206314561301

35.Isobe, T., Makino, S., & Montgomery, D. B. (2008). Technological capabilities and firm performance: The case of small manufacturing firms in Japan. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 25, 413–428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-008-9098-z

36.Jacobs, M., Droge, C., Vickery, S. K., & Calantone, R. (2011). Product and process modularity's effects on manufacturing agility and firm growth performance. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 28(1), 123–137. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5885.2010.00785.x

37.Ketterer, J. A. (2017). Digital finance: New times, new challenges, new opportunities. https://doi.org/10.18235/0007028

38.Koryak, O., Mole, K. F., Lockett, A., Hayton, J. C., Ucbasaran, D., & Hodgkinson, G. P. (2015). Entrepreneurial leadership, capabilities and firm growth. International Small Business Journal, 33(1), 89–105. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242614558315

39.Laeven, L., Levine, R., & Michalopoulos, S. (2015). Financial innovation and endogenous growth. Journal of Financial Intermediation, 24(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfi.2014.04.001

40.Lassoued, N., & Osman, I. B. (2021). The impact of national culture on overinvestment. International Journal of Revenue Management, 12(3-4), 213–235. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijrm.2021.120348

41.Lee, C.-C., Tang, M., & Lee, C.-C. (2023). Reaping digital dividends: Digital inclusive finance and high-quality development of enterprises in China. Telecommunications Policy, 47(2), 102484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2022.102484

42.Lee, C.-Y. (2018). Geographical clustering and firm growth: Differential growth performance among clustered firms. Research Policy, 47(6), 1173–1184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.04.002

43.Li, C., Wang, Y., Zhou, Z., Wang, Z., & Mardani, A. (2023). Digital finance and enterprise financing constraints: Structural characteristics and mechanism identification. Journal of business research, 165, 114074. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114074

44.Li, M., Hu, J., Liu, P., & Chen, J. (2023). How can digital finance boost enterprises’ high-quality development?: evidence from China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(38), 88876–88890. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-28519-4

45.Li, Y., Liu, X., & Zhao, Q. (2023). Digital finance, absorptive capacity and enterprise dual innovation: an empirical analysis on mediation and threshold effects. Asian Journal of Technology Innovation, 31(2), 447–478. https://doi.org/10.1080/19761597.2022.2095518

46.Liang, L., & Li, Y. (2024). How does organizational resilience promote firm growth? The mediating role of strategic change and managerial myopia. Journal of business research, 177, 114636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114636

47.Lin, A., Peng, Y., & Wu, X. (2022). Digital finance and investment of micro and small enterprises: Evidence from China. China Economic Review, 75, 101846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2022.101846

48.Lin, Y., Yan, X., & Yang, X. (2023). Digital finance and enterprise investment efficiency in China. International Review of Financial Analysis, 90, 102929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2023.102929

49.Lippman, S. A., & Rumelt, R. P. (2003). A bargaining perspective on resource advantage. Strategic management journal, 24(11), 1069–1086. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.345

50.Liu, Y., Jin, D., Liu, Y., & Wan, Q. (2023). RETRACTED ARTICLE: Digital finance, corporate financialization and enterprise operating performance: an empirical research based on Chinese A-share non-financial enterprises. Electronic Commerce Research, 23(1), 231–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-022-09606-z

51.Lockett, A., Thompson, S., & Morgenstern, U. (2009). The development of the resource‐based view of the firm: A critical appraisal. International journal of management reviews, 11(1), 9–28. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2370.2008.00252.x

52.Lou, Y., Zhou, W., & Ma, Y. (2023). The impact of involvement in targeted poverty alleviation on corporate investment efficiency. Economic Analysis and Policy, 79, 418–434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2023.06.023

53.Luo, S. (2022). Digital finance development and the digital transformation of enterprises: based on the perspective of financing constraint and innovation drive. Journal of Mathematics, 2022(1), 1607020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1607020

54.Malmendier, U., & Tate, G. (2005). Does overconfidence affect corporate investment? CEO overconfidence measures revisited. European financial management, 11(5), 649–659. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1354-7798.2005.00302.x

55.Mikalef, P., Pappas, I. O., Krogstie, J., & Giannakos, M. (2018). Big data analytics capabilities: a systematic literature review and research agenda. Information systems and e-business management, 16(3), 547–578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10257-017-0362-y

56.Mrożewski, M., & Kratzer, J. (2017). Entrepreneurship and country-level innovation: Investigating the role of entrepreneurial opportunities. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 42, 1125–1142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-016-9479-2

57.Mu, W., Liu, K., Tao, Y., & Ye, Y. (2023). Digital finance and corporate ESG. Finance Research Letters, 51, 103426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2023.103426

58.Newbert, S. L. (2008). Value, rareness, competitive advantage, and performance: a conceptual‐level empirical investigation of the resource‐based view of the firm. Strategic management journal, 29(7), 745–768. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.686

59.Ozili, P. K. (2018). Impact of digital finance on financial inclusion and stability. Borsa istanbul review, 18(4), 329–340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bir.2017.12.003

60.Ozili, P. K. (2023). Digital finance research and developments around the world: a literature review. International Journal of Business Forecasting and Marketing Intelligence, 8(1), 35–51. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijbfmi.2022.10049390

61.Park, J. Y., Sung, C. S., & Im, I. (2017). Does social media use influence entrepreneurial opportunity? A review of its moderating role. Sustainability, 9(9), 1593. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9091593

62.Pelham, A. M. (1999). Influence of environment, strategy, and market orientation on performance in small manufacturing firms. Journal of business research, 45(1), 33–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0148-2963(98)00026-5

63.Peng, H., & Luxin, W. (2022). Digital economy and business investment efficiency: Inhibiting or facilitating? Research in International Business and Finance, 63, 101797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2022.101797

64.Peng, S., Jiang, X., & Li, Y. (2023). The impact of the digital economy on Chinese enterprise innovation based on intermediation models with financing constraints. Heliyon, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13961

65.Plekhanov, D., Franke, H., & Netland, T. H. (2023). Digital transformation: A review and research agenda. European management journal, 41(6), 821–844. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2022.09.007

66.Power, D. J., Cyphert, D., & Roth, R. M. (2019). Analytics, bias, and evidence: The quest for rational decision making. Journal of Decision Systems, 28(2), 120–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/12460125.2019.1623534

67.Provost, F., & Fawcett, T. (2013). Data science and its relationship to big data and data-driven decision making. Big data, 1(1), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1089/big.2013.1508

68.Qi-Zhi, W., & Tao, Y. (2013). The Quality Control in Construction of Vertical Prestress Based on Vibration Testing Method for the PC Box Girder Bridge. 2013 Fifth International Conference on Measuring Technology and Mechatronics Automation,

69.Risman, A., Mulyana, B., Silvatika, B., & Sulaeman, A. (2021). The effect of digital finance on financial stability. Management Science Letters, 11(7), 1979–1984. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2021.3.012

70.Russo, M. V., & Fouts, P. A. (1997). A resource-based perspective on corporate environmental performance and profitability. Academy of management Journal, 40(3), 534–559. https://doi.org/10.2307/257052

71.Sandhu, A. K. (2021). Big data with cloud computing: Discussions and challenges. Big Data Mining and Analytics, 5(1), 32–40. https://doi.org/10.26599/bdma.2021.9020016

72.Savino, M. M., & Shafiq, M. (2018). An extensive study to assess the sustainability drivers of production performances using a resource-based view and contingency analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 204, 744–752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.191

73.Shamim, S., Zeng, J., Shariq, S. M., & Khan, Z. (2019). Role of big data management in enhancing big data decision-making capability and quality among Chinese firms: A dynamic capabilities view. Information & Management, 56(6), 103135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2018.12.003

74.Siegel, D. S., & Renko, M. (2012). The role of market and technological knowledge in recognizing entrepreneurial opportunities. Management Decision, 50(5), 797–816. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251741211227500

75.Su, X., Zeng, W., Zheng, M., Jiang, X., Lin, W., & Xu, A. (2022). Big data analytics capabilities and organizational performance: the mediating effect of dual innovations. European Journal of Innovation Management, 25(4), 1142–1160. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejim-10-2020-0431

76.Sun, X., & Xie, X. (2024). How does digital finance promote entrepreneurship? The roles of traditional financial institutions and BigTech firms. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 85, 102316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2024.102316

77.Tang, D., Chen, W., Zhang, Q., & Zhang, J. (2023). Impact of digital finance on green technology innovation: the mediating effect of financial constraints. Sustainability, 15(4), 3393. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043393

78.Tang, X., Ding, S., Gao, X., & Zhao, T. (2022). Can digital finance help increase the value of strategic emerging enterprises? Sustainable Cities and Society, 81, 103829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.103829

79.Tian, K., You, Z., & Sun, G. (2021). The investment role positioning of non-controlling shareholders' network power. Business Economics and Management (in Chinese), 41(9), 56–70.

80.Wahyuni, N. M., & Sara, I. M. (2020). The effect of entrepreneurial orientation variables on business performance in the SME industry context. Journal of Workplace Learning, 32(1), 35–62. https://doi.org/10.1108/jwl-03-2019-0033

81.Wang, H., Xu, Z., Fujita, H., & Liu, S. (2016). Towards felicitous decision making: An overview on challenges and trends of Big Data. Information Sciences, 367, 747–765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2016.07.007

82.Wang, L. (2017). Heterogeneous data and big data analytics. Automatic Control and Information Sciences, 3(1), 8–15. https://doi.org/10.12691/acis-3-1-3

83.Wang, L., Wu, Y., Huang, Z., & Wang, Y. (2024). Big data application and corporate investment decisions: Evidence from A-share listed companies in China. International Review of Financial Analysis, 94, 103331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2024.103331

84.Wang, Y., Kung, L., Byrd, T. A. J. T. f., & change, s. (2018). Big data analytics: Understanding its capabilities and potential benefits for healthcare organizations. 126, 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2015.12.019

85.Wang, Z. (2022). Digital finance, financing constraint and enterprise financial risk. Journal of Mathematics, 2022(1), 2882113. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2882113

86.Wu, Y., & Huang, S. (2022). The effects of digital finance and financial constraint on financial performance: Firm-level evidence from China's new energy enterprises. Energy Economics, 112, 106158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2022.106158

87.Xu, X., Wo, J., & Fang, L. (2018). CEO gender, property rights and corporate overinvestment. Finance and Economics (in Chinese), 232(4), 66.

88.Yao, Q., Tang, H., Boadu, F., & Xie, Y. (2023). Digital transformation and firm sustainable growth: The moderating effects of cross-border search capability and managerial digital concern. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 14(4), 4929–4953. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-022-01083-x

89.Yeboah, M. A. (2021). Determinants of SME growth: An empirical perspective of SMEs in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. The Journal of Business in Developing Areas & Nations, 14, 1–31.

90.Zhong, S., Li, A., & Wu, J. (2022). How does digital finance affect environmental total factor productivity: A comprehensive analysis based on econometric model. Environmental Development, 44, 100759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2022.100759

Downloads

Published

2025-11-24

How to Cite

Promoting Firm Growth Performance Through Digital Finance: Empirical Insights from Chinese Manufacturing Enterpriseserprisese Manufacturing Enterprises. (2025). Journal of Contemporary Economics and Management, 1(1), 78-103. https://doi.org/10.65514/h5jahe19