Prof. Mike LAI Kee-hung: Dynamic capabilities and digital collaboration as key to supply chain competitiveness
Amid growing uncertainty in global supply chains, firms that continue to rely solely on internal resources and established operating models are finding it increasing difficult to maintain a long-term competitive edge. A study by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) finds that, in the face of multiple challenges, including geopolitical risks, cost volatility and increasingly stringent environmental regulations, businesses must strengthen the dynamic capabilities of their supply chains, deepen value co-creation mechanisms, and embrace digital transformation to effectively enhance supply chain resilience and overall competitiveness.
The study was led by Prof. Mike LAI Kee-hung, Co-Director of the Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement, Associate Dean (Academic Support) of the Faculty of Business, Interim Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, and Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics. The research identifies three core dimensions of supply chain dynamic capability. The first is sensing capability, that is, a firm’s ability to identify external risks and potential opportunities at an early stage. The second is adaptive capability, i.e., the ability to respond swiftly and make effective decisions during crises or sudden changes in the operating environment. The third is reconfiguring capability, which refers to the capacity to flexibly adjust supply chain resource allocation and operating models in response to shifts in both internal and external environments.
The study further highlights that dynamic capabilities do not necessarily lead to innovation performance or competitive advantage. Their impacts must be realised through the process of value co-creation. Specifically, firms need to build closer collaborative relationships with suppliers, customers and logistics partners. Through joint product design, process optimisation and information sharing, capabilities at the individual firm level can be extended across the wider supply chain network, thereby fostering knowledge integration, resource coordination and innovative outcomes.
The study also finds that digital transformation plays a significant reinforcing role in this process. The higher a firm’s level of digitalisation, the greater its efficiency in information flows, cross-organisational coordination and supply chain transparency. This, in turn, enhances the effectiveness of value co-creation and further amplifies the positive impact of dynamic capabilities on innovation and performance. In other words, digital technology is not merely a tool for improving operational efficiency, but also a critical enabler of collaborative innovation and strategic transformation across supply chains.
The study emphasises that future market competition will no longer be confined to rivalry between individual firms, but will instead centre more on multi-faceted competitions between supply chain ecosystems in terms of collaborative capability, resilience and innovation performance. Firms that can effectively integrate dynamic capabilities, value co-creation and digital transformation will therefore be better placed to build sustained competitive advantage in a highly uncertain external environment and to strengthen their leadership within the wider industrial ecosystem.
Online coverage: HK01 - https://polyu.me/4vpkmpl
黎基雄教授：動態能力與數碼協同成供應鏈致勝關鍵
在全球供應鏈不確定性持續上升的情況下，企業若僅依賴內部資源與既有營運模式，已難以維持長遠競爭優勢。香港理工大學（理大）一項研究指出，面對地緣政治風險、成本波動，以及環境規管日趨嚴格等多重挑戰，企業必須同步提升供應鏈的動態能力、深化價值共創機制，推動數碼轉型，方能有效提升供應鏈韌性與整體競爭力。
該項研究由理大環境，社會，和治理促進研究中心聯席主任、工商管理學院副院長（學務統籌）、物流及航運學系暫任系主任、航運及物流講座教授黎基雄教授領導。研究將供應鏈動態能力歸納為三類核心構面。其一為洞察能力，即企業及早識別外部風險與潛在機遇的能力；其二為應變能力，即企業在危機或環境突變下迅速回應並作出決策的能力；其三為重構能力，即企業因應內外部條件變化，靈活調整供應鏈資源配置與運作模式的能力。
研究進一步指出，動態能力本身並不必然直接轉化為創新績效或競爭優勢，其作用須透過價值共創過程方能實現。具體而言，企業需與供應商、客戶及物流夥伴建立更緊密的協作關係，透過共同產品設計、流程優化及資訊共享等方式，將個別企業層面的能力延伸至整個供應鏈網絡，從而促進知識整合、資源協同及創新成果產出。
此外，研究亦發現，數碼轉型在上述過程中發揮顯著的強化作用。企業的數碼化程度愈高，其資訊傳遞效率、跨組織協調能力及供應鏈透明度亦相應提升，從而有助提升價值共創的成效，並進一步放大動態能力對創新與績效的正面影響。換言之，數碼技術不僅是提升營運效率的工具，更是推動供應鏈協同創新與策略轉型的重要基礎設施。
研究強調，未來市場競爭的核心，將不再局限於單一企業之間的競逐，而是供應鏈生態系統之間在協同能力、韌性表現與創新水平上的綜合較量。因而，能夠有效整合動態能力、價值共創與數碼轉型三者的企業，將更有條件在高度不確定的外部環境中建立持續競爭優勢，並鞏固其在產業生態中的領導地位。
網上報導：HK01 - https://polyu.me/4vpkmpl
