The traditional exogenous incentives have failed in the context of the current knowledge-based employees, and the establishment of endogenous incentives is more suitable for the current characteristics of the times. Based on the perspective of structural empowerment, this paper conducts the grounded analysis of the amoeba pattern based on HSTYLE. It is found that: (1)in the introduction of the amoeba pattern, the structural empowerment system is designed based on the five empowerment dimensions of resource, information, support, opportunity and power to promote the transformation of individuals from the role of employees to the role of operators. (2)in the operation of the amoeba, relevant empowerment process modules are established, and the normalization of structural authorization empowerment is realized through the construction of information system and platform solidification. (3)at different stages of amoeba ’s development, enterprises have successively achieved the upgrading of individual empowerment, system empowerment and ecological empowerment, supporting the transformation and upgrading of enterprise’s organizational positioning. The research reveals the key characteristics and the logical framework of the structural empowerment of the amoeba pattern, which has certain reference significance for the incentive transformation of traditional enterprises

The SRDI (Specialized, Refined, Distinct, and Innovative) has pointed out the growth direction for SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises). However, existing literature has yet to thoroughly investigate the process by which digital technology drives the transformation of SMEs into SRDI enterprises in a dynamic context. Integrating paradox and resource orchestration theories. This study takes the growth practice of Tongxin Intelligent Medical, a national-level SRDI “Little Giant” enterprise as the research object. Using an exploratory single-case study approach, this research explores the process mechanism by which digital technology facilitates SMEs’ transition into SRDI enterprises. The findings reveal that (1) SMEs progress through four distinct growth stages to evolve into SRDI enterprises: specialized entry stage, refined rooting stage, distinctive expansion stage, and innovative breakthrough stage. Throughout this process, paradoxical elements continuously transform and iterate through four stages: fundamental paradox, endogenous paradox, exogenous paradox, and core paradox. (2) with the support of digital technology, the “digital connection — digital collaboration — digital drive — digital foresight” guides relevant resource actions, helping SMEs effectively cope with paradoxes and accumulate SRDI capabilities. (3)by identifying paradoxical elements and decoding the core functions of digital technology, enterprises continuously upgrade their resource orchestration strategies. This progression follows a sequence of entrepreneurial resource bricolage, exploitative resource orchestration, exploratory resource orchestration, and integrative resource orchestration. The process model of SMEs to grow into SRDI enterprises enrich the theories related to paradoxes and resource actions in dynamic contexts, and provides managerial implications for SMEs and policy recommendations for government agencies seeking to support SRDI development. 

As an important subject to open up the “last kilometer” of scientific and technological achievements transformation, the effectiveness of its industry-university-research cooperation is of great significance to maintain the good operation of regional industrial innovation ecosystem. Based on the operation law of regional industrial innovation ecosystem, the comprehensive analysis of multiple cases of application-oriented universities shows that the operation of industry-university-research collaborative innovation can be divided into three stages of research and development, productization, industrialization and commercialization. Application-oriented universities play a key role in connecting scientific research and industrial demand, and integrate into the regional industrial innovation ecosystem through three models of industry-university- research collaborative innovation: science and technology project traction, industrial transformation drive, and policy guidance, which can promote the co-creation of scientific and technological value, economic value and social value among innovation subjects.

Strategy formation is crucial for enterprises to identify and seize entrepreneurial opportunities. The micro-foundation of strategy formation in in entrepreneurial settings is a hot issue in the research field. By utilizing the theoretical framework of decision weaving, this paper conducts an exploratory single case study on typical startups in hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle industry, reveals the strategic formation process of technology startups, and constructs a cross-level theoretical model of “managerial cognition change — enterprise niche evolution — strategy formation”. The results show that: (1) both the startup and the industry co-evolve, and the managerial cognition of entrepreneurs is proactive, which influences enterprise niches; (2) with the development of the firm, the managerial cognition of entrepreneurs changes, which triggers the implementation of managerial actions to present the enterprise niche and drive strategy formation in startups; (3) managerial cognition change, enterprise niche evolution and strategy formation together present a continuous dynamic logic, and strategy formation is the process of the transformation of entrepreneurs’ managerial cognition to specific managerial actions.

How to transform from“all stores precisely the same” (ASPS) to“each store with its own feature” (ESOF), and effectively guarantee the operational efficiency of enterprises while meeting differentiated demands, is a major problem faced by chain supermarket enterprises in the process of transformation and upgrading. A case study of Beijing CSF Market is conducted using the grounded research method, and followed by the development of a theoretical model to realize the ESOF based on modularization. It is found that: (1) modularization is an important way for retail enterprises to realize the ESOF, following the paths of “business circle analysis — target customer group selection and positioning of store characteristics — module construction — module combination — module adjustment — module integration — ESOF”. (2) the modularization process of chain supermarket enterprises usually includes three stages: module construction, module combination, and module adjustment. (3) module integration has the dual functions of standardization and differentiation, which can effectively resolve the contradiction between diversified demand satisfaction and the guarantee of operational efficiency. (4) the differences of modularity between the retail field and the manufacturing field are manifested in aspects such as application scope, operations, approaches, management and regulations, and effectiveness.The research results expand the research perspective of the application of modularization in the retail field, and provide theoretical support and practical reference for the transformation and upgrading of chain supermarket enterprises to the ESOF.

The rise of new media is changing the marketing and dissemination ways of animated films and their IP derivatives. How to stand out among numerous contents and attract more audiences has become an important issue. Based on the SIVA and AISAS theoretical models, this paper conducts a case study with “Boonie Bears” produced by Huaqiang Fantawild as the research sample, and makes an in-depth analysis of the content elements, word-of-mouth advertising, derivatives, and omni-channel marketing and communication strategies of animated films and their IP derivatives in the era of social media. The research shows that domestic animated films should focus on content innovation, make full use of new media resources, broaden marketing and communication channels, refine marketing strategies, and deepen cooperation with major video websites to jointly build a broader marketing and communication platform, so as to provide new perspectives and paths for the marketing strategies of relevant animated films. The research results are helpful for enhancing the influence of animated films and their IP derivatives and comprehensively improving the market attractiveness of animated films and related derivatives.

In order to explore how agricultural enterprises innovate the agricultural supply chain’s financial model and risk control strategy under the background of digital transformation, we have done a field research on New Hope Liuhe, a leading agricultural enterprise, and its subsidiary Puhui Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Financing Guarantee Company. Based on the theory of comprehensive risk management, from the perspective of business and financial risks, we analyze the agricultural supply chain finance model and innovation of digital risk control strategies in the three stages of loan application, use and recovery. The study finds that New Hope Liuhe optimize the function sharing of core enterprises in supply chain finance and innovate digital risk control strategies such as 360-degree risk control management system by means of “online big data + offline visits”, effectively controlling business and financial risks in agricultural supply chain finance. Therefore, it is suggested that agricultural enterprises implementing supply chain finance should innovate the supply chain finance model from the perspective of differentiation of core enterprise functions, and constantly innovate risk control strategies by using digital means and big data in the agricultural operation process.

Taking the industrial investment event of CR Sanjiu M&A of Aonuo Pharmaceutical as the research sample and using the decentralization theory as the theoretical basis, this paper deeply analyzes the decision-making power decentralized to the invested by the industrial investor in different aspects of marketing, supply chain, and personnel, and discusses the way and path of post-investment integration of industrial investment. Research has found that: Firstly, the ability of the acquired enterprise determines its degree of decentralization in post-investment integration. The stronger the ability of the acquired party in a certain dimension, the higher the degree of decentralization, which helps to leverage the capabilities and advantages of the acquired party and avoid high decision-making costs caused by excessive control. The weaker the ability of the acquired party, the lower the degree of decentralization obtained, which helps to control agency costs caused by inconsistent goals. Secondly, the acquiring party dynamically adjusts the intensity of post-investment integration according to the situation. For the integration dimension with weaker capabilities of the acquired party, the degree of decentralization gradually decreases as the degree of integration goes on. Thirdly, as an informal institutional arrangement, cultural integration has a significant positive effect on stabilizing personnel and teams, and promoting subsequent formal integration. The research findings of this article can fill the research gap in post-investment integration of industrial investment, and can provide reference for investors to integrate better and empower the acquired enterprises from a long-term perspective. 

This paper selects the first case of minority shareholder activism to determine the effectiveness of takeover defense mechanisms in China’s capital market, the hostile takeover of Zhenxing Biopharmaceutical & Chemical Co., Ltd by Zhejiang United Investment Group. Considering the activation of the corporate defense market and the motivations of control rights behind the first largest shareholder, this paper systematically analyzes the design of takeover defense mechanisms, takeover defense process, and takeover defense results based on the perspective of minority shareholder activism, and build a theoretical framework of the effectiveness of takeover defense mechanisms. This paper measures minority shareholder activism by exercising rights similarities when takeover defense happens. The findings are as follows: The rise in rights similarities can significantly weaken the effectiveness caused by takeover defense which is influenced by the company’s characteristics. Minority shareholder activism is mainly realized through the paths of strengthening public opinion monitoring and increasing the number of participants in collective actions. This process is constrained by the characteristics of the company and the institutional environment. Minority shareholder activism weakens the motivations of control rights behind the first largest shareholder while strengthening the “synergy effect”, which is conducive to protecting the long-term interests of minority shareholders. This paper focuses on a new corporate governance scenario, pays attention to the potential non-defensive motives of takeover defense mechanisms, and explores the realization path to improve the effectiveness of takeover defense mechanisms. The results of the study can enrich the theories related to the effectiveness of takeover defense mechanisms, provide the practical experience of shareholders’ activism, and supplement the research perspective of the Chinese story.

The establishment of the “30 Young Case Scholars Forum” aims to explore hot research topics and complex issues of the case study method, promote the development of the method and its application in management studies, thus build on case studies as an academic discipline. In 2024, the fourth forum was held at Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, focusing on key issues such as the templates of case studies, the combination of the case study method with large-sample data research, mixed research methods, and theoretical innovation in case research. This paper provides a detailed summary of the fundamental philosophical logic, mainstream views, controversial issues, and possible solutions scholars propose on the above topics. Based on this, systematic development suggestions and ideas are put forward to promote the application and innovation of the case research method in domestic management research