Digital creativity and innovation in Chinese social network sites industry

2012-11-28This dissertation aims at exploring the development trajectory and mechanisms of digital creativity and innovation industries in China through the lens of Chinese Social Networking Sites (SNS) companies. By tracing the emergence, development and evolution of SNS companies within the social, cultural and political context of contemporary Chinese society and comparing their experiences with American paradigms, this project examines the manifestations of digital creativity in China and its interrelation with innovation industries in three layers: first, the conceptualization and transformation of digital creativity in China and how they are translated into product and process innovation; second, underpinning factors for the development of SNS companies including capital acquisition, labor structure, production process, marketing strategy and producer-user dynamic; third, mechanisms of innovation industries in China and fundamental obstacles to its cultivation and development. On the one hand, in order to trace the interrelationship between creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, companies under study are divided into different categories based on their developmental phase, scale, property characteristics, the background of founders and entrepreneurs. On the other hand, to enquire the relation between product and process innovation, this study examines to what extent sociability provided on each website is translated into business success. Established upon these investigations, this dissertation endeavors to map out the formulation of innovation networks within the industry and establish systematic indicators on the development of innovation industries. ❧ The research design and analyses of this project show that the manifestation and practices of digital creativity and innovation vary at different developmental phases and analytical levels. The ability to accumulate and employ internal and external resources so as to establish networks among policy makers, industrial peers, talent and research incubators and users is the ultimate barometer of innovation model and vitality. Consequently, founders and founding team play a decisive role in the process with regards to maintain team diversity, domain relevant skills and finalize strategic decisions. Venture capital is a more eminent problem for Chinese companies than political intervention. However, sustainability and sufficiency of venture capital cannot substitute solid business model and profit-making competence as the ultimate driving force of innovation potential at later developmental phases. Usability and sociability are not only the touchstone of companies’ interaction richness with users and product innovation efforts, but also the fundamental for business success. Accordingly, in response to the specific user demographics, user behaviour, site infrastructure, social, political, economic and cultural realities in China, Chinese SNS companies are more focused on divergent rather than convergent innovation. They are more experienced with customized features, social element monetization, interaction richness. Instead of extrapolating American paradigms to the domestic environment, Chinese SNS companies undertake different creative and innovation mission and generate creativity and innovation patterns entrenched in the Chinese context