Understanding digital business ecosystems in gastronomy: The mediating role of digital collaboration and the moderating effect of environmental turbulence

Aizhen Zheng

doi:10.24288/jttr.1814295

Understanding digital business ecosystems in gastronomy: The mediating role of digital collaboration and the moderating effect of environmental turbulence

Abstract

This study examines how digital business ecosystem capabilities drive gastronomy business performance in tourism contexts characterized by environmental turbulence. Drawing on Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the research develops and tests a moderated mediation model in which digital collaboration quality mediates the relationship between ecosystem capabilities and business performance, while environmental turbulence acts as a boundary condition. Survey data collected from 412 gastronomy-oriented tourism businesses were analyzed using a two-stage PLS-SEM approach. The findings reveal that digital business ecosystem capabilities significantly enhance the quality of digital collaboration, thereby improving gastronomy business performance. Moreover, environmental turbulence strengthens both the direct and indirect effects, indicating that ecosystem capabilities become more valuable under higher uncertainty. By extending dynamic capabilities to the ecosystem level, this study advances tourism and hospitality literature and offers actionable insights for managers navigating digitally enabled tourism ecosystems.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Innovation Management

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Aizhen Zheng ^*
0009-0009-9191-1670
United States

Publication Date

March 22, 2026

Submission Date

October 31, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1814295

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA94FT47RR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Zheng, A. (2026). Understanding digital business ecosystems in gastronomy: The mediating role of digital collaboration and the moderating effect of environmental turbulence. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, 12(1), 52-63. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1814295

AMA

1.Zheng A. Understanding digital business ecosystems in gastronomy: The mediating role of digital collaboration and the moderating effect of environmental turbulence. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026;12(1):52-63. doi:10.24288/jttr.1814295

Chicago

Zheng, Aizhen. 2026. “Understanding Digital Business Ecosystems in Gastronomy: The Mediating Role of Digital Collaboration and the Moderating Effect of Environmental Turbulence”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research 12 (1): 52-63. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1814295.

EndNote

Zheng A (March 1, 2026) Understanding digital business ecosystems in gastronomy: The mediating role of digital collaboration and the moderating effect of environmental turbulence. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research 12 1 52–63.

IEEE

[1]A. Zheng, “Understanding digital business ecosystems in gastronomy: The mediating role of digital collaboration and the moderating effect of environmental turbulence”, Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 52–63, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.24288/jttr.1814295.

ISNAD

Zheng, Aizhen. “Understanding Digital Business Ecosystems in Gastronomy: The Mediating Role of Digital Collaboration and the Moderating Effect of Environmental Turbulence”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research 12/1 (March 1, 2026): 52-63. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1814295.

JAMA

1.Zheng A. Understanding digital business ecosystems in gastronomy: The mediating role of digital collaboration and the moderating effect of environmental turbulence. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026;12:52–63.

MLA

Zheng, Aizhen. “Understanding Digital Business Ecosystems in Gastronomy: The Mediating Role of Digital Collaboration and the Moderating Effect of Environmental Turbulence”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, vol. 12, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 52-63, doi:10.24288/jttr.1814295.

Vancouver

1.Aizhen Zheng. Understanding digital business ecosystems in gastronomy: The mediating role of digital collaboration and the moderating effect of environmental turbulence. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026 Mar. 1;12(1):52-63. doi:10.24288/jttr.1814295