Enabling the Realization of Digital Infrastructure's Latent Value through Entrepreneurial Opportunity Prototypes:A Multi-Case Exploration of Scene-Driven Innovation

doi:10.13438/j.cnki.jdxb.2026.01.007

Abstract

Abstract:

A critical challenge in both theoretical inquiry and practical application is how to unlock the latent functional value inherent in digital infrastructure—such as its commonality,reusability,reconfigurability,and editability—by embedding it within multidimensional application scenes to catalyze novel business model innovation.Employing an analytical framework focused on the decoupling and orchestration of "means-ends" relationships,this study examines how entrepreneurial opportunity prototypes facilitate the release of digital infrastructure's value.Through a multiple-case study design,we conduct an in-depth analysis of four digital startups that are pioneering applied innovation scenes.Our investigation elucidates the enabling mechanisms through which these ventures,driven by specific scenes,leverage distinct types of opportunity prototypes to actualize the value of digital infrastructure.The findings indicate that:(1) Digital infrastructure can be classified as either natively developed or secondarily developed,with corresponding opportunity prototypes demonstrating divergent profiles across dimensions including investment payoff cycles,thresholds of combinatory complexity,efficiency of resource orchestration,and risks associated with dependency embedding.(2) Opportunity prototypes are materialized within application scenes via the orchestration and recombination of resources,coupled with digital business model innovation.Specific combinatorial patterns encompass functional augmentation,functional transformation,vision augmentation,and vision transformation.(3) The distinct value-realization modes associated with different opportunity prototypes enable granular strategic positioning.This is achieved by modulating the opportunity's feasibility and distinctiveness across dimensions such as the temporal window of opportunity,product or service categories,and the substantive content and spatial extensibility of the application scenario,thereby maximizing value extraction.Theoretically,this research advances understanding of the enabling mechanisms of opportunity prototypes within the domain of digital entrepreneurship.Practically,it yields salient managerial implications for fostering the high-quality development of China's digital economy.

Key words:

digital , infrastructure, digital , economy, start-up , enterprises, digital , entrepreneurship, opportunity , prototype, scene-driven , innovation, multiple-case , study

XIAO Xionghui.

Enabling the Realization of Digital Infrastructure's Latent Value through Entrepreneurial Opportunity Prototypes:A Multi-Case Exploration of Scene-Driven Innovation [J]. Journal of Jishou University(Social Sciences Edition), 2026, 47(1): 84-97.

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Enabling the Realization of Digital Infrastructure's Latent Value through Entrepreneurial Opportunity Prototypes:A Multi-Case Exploration of Scene-Driven Innovation

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