Digital technology application breadth, depth and international performance: the moderating role of digital services trade barriers

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate how digital technology application breadth (DTAB) and digital technology application depth (DTAD) affect firms’ international performance and how digital services trade barriers (DSTB) moderate the effects. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on resource orchestration theory, the authors test the effects of DTAB and DTAD on international performance and the moderating role of DSTB using 6,580 firm-year observations of Chinese listed firms from 2014 to 2024. Findings The results show that both DTAB and DTAD are positively associated with firms’ international performance. However, DSTB significantly weakens the positive effect of DTAB on international performance and negatively moderates the DTAD–international performance relationship. Originality/value This research advances the understanding of how firms orchestrate digital resources under institutional constraints and offers practical insights into how international performance can be enhanced in complex global environments.