{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]],"date-time":"2026-01-16T02:57:09Z","timestamp":1768532229646,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,18]],"date-time":"2025-08-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755475200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Social Science Fund of China","award":["22BTJ050"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["22BTJ050"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Systems"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Grounded in the dynamic capability theory, this study selects three typical manufacturing enterprises as the research subjects. Through longitudinal and cross-case analyses, it delves into the dynamic alignment between the digital servitization capabilities and strategies of manufacturing enterprises, as well as the mechanism through which this alignment influences firm performance. The findings indicate that\u2014within the framework of capabilities, such as the strategy alignment model\u2014among six potential alignment scenarios, only three configurations exert a significantly positive impact on firm performance: the alignment of service data integration capabilities\/service demand exploration capabilities with product-centric digital servitization strategies and the alignment of digital service orchestration capabilities with ecosystem-centric strategies. The former bolsters efficiency advantages through value-added product servitization, while the latter unlocks ecological dividends by capitalizing on network effects. By uncovering the stage-specific patterns of capability\u2013strategy alignment, this study enriches the dynamic capability theory with a micro-level explanation in the context of digital servitization. It also offers a staged transformation roadmap for manufacturing enterprises to mitigate the risk of misalignment between strategic choices and their existing capabilities.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/systems13080707","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,18]],"date-time":"2025-08-18T15:34:53Z","timestamp":1755531293000},"page":"707","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["The Alignment Between Digital Servitization Strategies and Digital Servitization Capabilities in Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises: A Multi-Case Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Le","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Xi\u2019an University of Technology, Xi\u2019an 710054, China"},{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Weinan Normal University, Weinan 714099, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Juhong","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Xi\u2019an University of Technology, Xi\u2019an 710054, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hailin","family":"Dong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Xi\u2019an University of Technology, Xi\u2019an 710054, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yu, P., and Gao, M. (2024). Research on Dynamic Evolution Mechanism of Manufacturing Servitization\u2014Based on the Perspective of Innovation Strategy. Systems, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/systems12070225"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Giancamilli, G., Generosi, A., Agostinelli, T., Mazzuto, G., and Mengoni, M. (2024, January 11\u201313). Methodological Framework to Define Connected Machines\u2019 Specifications for Smart Factories. Proceedings of the International Conference of the Italian Association of Design Methods and Tools for Industrial Engineering, Palermo, Italy.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-58094-9_44"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhou, G. (2024). Has artificial intelligence promoted manufacturing servitization: Evidence from chinese enterprises. Sustainability, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/su16062526"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"380","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2019.06.027","article-title":"Digital servitization business models in ecosystems: A theory of the firm","volume":"104","author":"Parida","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1108\/IJOPM-04-2022-0259","article-title":"Mechanisms for developing operational capabilities in digital servitization","volume":"43","author":"Momeni","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Oper. Prod. Manag."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113668","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2023.113668","article-title":"Moving from servitization to digital servitization: Identifying the required dynamic capabilities and related microfoundations to facilitate the transition","volume":"158","author":"Chirumalla","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122901","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2023.122901","article-title":"Data-driven digital capabilities enable servitization strategy\u2014From service supporting the product to service supporting the client","volume":"197","author":"Chen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108175","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2021.108175","article-title":"Disentangling the interactions within and between servitization and digitalization strategies: A service-dominant logic","volume":"238","author":"Zhou","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Prod. Econ."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"447","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cirpj.2020.12.005","article-title":"Digital servitization and competence development: A case-study research","volume":"32","author":"Cimini","year":"2021","journal-title":"CIRP J. Manuf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"694","DOI":"10.1108\/IJOPM-08-2020-0544","article-title":"On the road to digital servitization\u2013The (dis) continuous interplay between business model and digital technology","volume":"41","author":"Chen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Oper. Prod. Manag."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indmarman.2020.02.014","article-title":"Unravelling the internal and external drivers of digital servitization: A dynamic capabilities and contingency perspective on firm strategy","volume":"89","author":"Coreynen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ind. Mark. Manag."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Neuh\u00fcttler, J., Feike, M., Kutz, J., Bl\u00fcmel, C., and Bienzeisler, B. (2023). Digital factory transformation from a servitization perspective: Fields of action for developing internal smart services. Sci, 5.","DOI":"10.3390\/sci5020022"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109434","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2024.109434","article-title":"Digital servitization in digital enterprise: Leveraging digital platform capabilities to unlock data value","volume":"278","author":"Jia","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Prod. Econ."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indmarman.2024.08.010","article-title":"Exploring configurations of digital servitization capabilities for value creation: An fsQCA approach","volume":"122","author":"Ruffoni","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ind. Mark. Manag."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indmarman.2022.03.003","article-title":"Capabilities supporting digital servitization: A multi-actor perspective","volume":"103","author":"Marcon","year":"2022","journal-title":"Ind. Mark. Manag."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"286","DOI":"10.1108\/QRAM-11-2022-0185","article-title":"Insights on the role of performance measurement systems in the digital servitization landscape: A longitudinal case study","volume":"22","author":"Marelli","year":"2024","journal-title":"Qual. Res. Account. Manag."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"594","DOI":"10.1108\/IJOPM-02-2023-0139","article-title":"Unfolding the resource configuration and interaction in digital servitization: An exploratory two-stage research design","volume":"45","author":"Fang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Oper. Prod. Manag."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"45","article-title":"Digitalized Product-Service Systems in Manufacturing Firms: A Case Study Analysis","volume":"58","author":"Lerch","year":"2015","journal-title":"Res.-Technol. Manag."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indmarman.2016.04.012","article-title":"Boosting servitization through digitization: Pathways and dynamic resource configurations for manufacturers","volume":"60","author":"Coreynen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ind. Mark. Manag."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"341","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2019.01.014","article-title":"Servitization and Industry 4.0 convergence in the digital transformation of product firms: A business model innovation perspective","volume":"141","author":"Frank","year":"2019","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kohtam\u00e4ki, M., Rabetino, R., Parida, V., Sj\u00f6din, D., and Henneberg, S. (2022). Managing Digital Servitization Toward Smart Solutions: Framing the Connections Between Technologies, Business Models, and Ecosystems, Elsevier.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indmarman.2022.06.010"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Xie, J., Ma, L., and Li, J. (2023). Servitization, digitalization or hand in hand: A study on the sustainable development path of manufacturing enterprises. Sustainability, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/su151310644"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6984","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.3855","article-title":"Orchestrating the ecosystem for data-driven digital services and solutions: A multi-level framework for the realization of sustainable industry","volume":"33","author":"Kolagar","year":"2024","journal-title":"Bus. Strategy Environ."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121361","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2021.121361","article-title":"Capabilities of digital servitization: Evidence from the socio-technical systems theory","volume":"176","author":"Marx","year":"2022","journal-title":"Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109604","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2025.109604","article-title":"Artificial Intelligence Capabilities in Digital Servitization: Identifying Digital Opportunities for Different Service Types","volume":"284","author":"Ayala","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Prod. Econ."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1319","DOI":"10.1002\/smj.640","article-title":"Explicating dynamic capabilities: The nature and microfoundations of (sustainable) enterprise performance","volume":"28","author":"Teece","year":"2007","journal-title":"Strateg. Manag. J."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"450","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2019.02.012","article-title":"Organizing for digital servitization: A service ecosystem perspective","volume":"104","author":"Sklyar","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"532","DOI":"10.2307\/258557","article-title":"Building Theories from Case Study Research","volume":"14","author":"Eisenhardt","year":"1989","journal-title":"Acad. Manag. Rev."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Yin, R.K. (2009). Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Sage."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2116","DOI":"10.1080\/00207543.2017.1324224","article-title":"The role of digital technologies for the service transformation of industrial companies","volume":"56","author":"Ardolino","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Prod. Res."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mccracken, G., and Mccracken, G.D. (1988). The Long Interview, Sage.","DOI":"10.4135\/9781412986229"},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Yin, R.K. (2013). Case Study Research: Design and methods, Sage."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.3102\/0013189X013005020","article-title":"Drawing Valid Meaning from Qualitative Data: Toward a Shared Craft","volume":"13","author":"Miles","year":"1984","journal-title":"Educ. Res."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112572","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chaos.2022.112572","article-title":"Analysis of chaos-coherence peculiarities within the chaotic phenomena of fluid at finite temperature","volume":"164","author":"Bary","year":"2022","journal-title":"Solitons Fractals"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"306","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2014.03.021","article-title":"Energy efficiency optimization of air supply system in a water bottle manufacturing system","volume":"85","author":"Jovanovic","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"131","article-title":"Four strategies for the age of smart services","volume":"83","author":"Allmendinger","year":"2005","journal-title":"Harv. Bus. Rev."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen, D., and Wang, S. (2024). Digital transformation, innovation capabilities, and servitization as drivers of ESG performance in manufacturing SMEs. Sci. Rep., 14.","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-76416-8"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1362","DOI":"10.1108\/JBIM-01-2022-0008","article-title":"Digital servitization journey in small- and medium-sized enterprises: The contribution of knowledge-intensive business firms","volume":"38","author":"Rapaccini","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Bus. Ind. Mark."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102588","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ribaf.2024.102588","article-title":"The impact of digital transformation on the servitization transformation of manufacturing firms","volume":"73","author":"Sui","year":"2025","journal-title":"Res. Int. Bus. Financ."}],"container-title":["Systems"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-8954\/13\/8\/707\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T18:29:49Z","timestamp":1760034589000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-8954\/13\/8\/707"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,18]]},"references-count":39,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8]]}},"alternative-id":["systems13080707"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/systems13080707","relation":{},"ISSN":["2079-8954"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2079-8954","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,18]]}}}