Question/Purpose: Facing the series of problems about resource consumption and environmental pollution of traditional resource-based manufacturing enterprises, ecological innovation research has become a new hot topic in the innovation research. If enterprises that need to be transformed continue to succumb to the traditional economic value-oriented innovation, the sustainable development concept that follows the ecological discipline of this enterprises will be seriously violated. Therefore, during the transforming, the enterprises should bring the ecological ideas into the practical innovation activities such as business model innovation and technological innovation. However, existing literature has drawn an important conclusion about the importance of the fit from business model innovation and technological innovation in enterprises for successful market competition, which remains largely silent on when and how different fit mode of two innovations with ecological ideas could emerge in the transforming enterprises. In summary, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the fit of ecologically business model innovation (EBMI) and ecologically technological innovation (ETI) which promoting to achieve the transformation of traditional resource-based manufacturing enterprises, by breaking the imbalance between the ecological value creation and economic value creation and striving to get rid of the low-end lock of its value chain from traditional resource-based manufacturing industries.

Design/methodology/approach: This paper will take the traditional resource-based manufacturing industry in Shanxi Province as this research object, explores different fit modes of EBMI and ETI in different life cycle stages of enterprises. Firstly, the related research concepts such as traditional resource-based manufacturing enterprises, ecological innovation, EBMI, ETI, and life cycle of enterprises are defined, on the base of the concept of two types of ecological innovation, each type of ecological innovation is divided into three dimensions. Secondly, by theoretical analysis, the research hypotheses about different fit mode of EBMI and ETI in different life cycle stages of enterprises are proposed. Thirdly, based on questionnaire design and variable indicators measurement, we drawn on the data collected from 239 sample enterprises in four representative cities of Houma, Dingxiang, Jincheng and Jiaocheng of Shanxi Province, and analyze the data with reliability and validity of detailed assessment items, at the same time, the samples are clustering into four groups according to the measurement division of different life cycle stages. Most important, we construct the fit measurement model, this model is an effective integration from coupling and coordination, and the fit degree intervals are divided into three parts. Finally, based on this fit measurement model, combing the GE matrix analysis with testing different combination relationship of each dimension of EBMI and each dimension of ETI, the hypotheses are empirically tested and discussed. 

Findings: This research results show that, the best fit mode of ecologically novel business model innovation and ecologically exploratory technological innovation is showed in start-up or transmutation stage, such as some enterprises in start-up or transmutation stage begin to reconstruct new business models, continuously introduce new players, and work closely with high-end R&D platforms. The best fit mode of ecologically efficient business model innovation and ecologically exploitative technological innovation is showed in growing stage, such as many enterprises in this stage continuously strengthen the level of information sharing between alliances and strengthen the ecological improvement of existing business technologies; As well as the best fit mode of ecologically system-based business model innovation and ecologically ambidexterity technological innovation is showed in maturity stage, such as some enterprises not only improve business models and promote the development of new environmental materials, but also try to build a new value network system and develop diversified high-end products. In the actual development of ecologically innovative activities, enterprise managers should carefully examine the development stage of the enterprise, and follow the development rules of the fit of two ecological innovations at each stage, as well as promote the balanced development of EBMI and ETI, so as to accelerate the achievement of transformation target of traditional resource-based manufacturing enterprises. In addition, when the transitional enterprises convert from one development state to another, it should keep up with the supporting strategies of transitioning from one fit mode to another, so as to extend the duration time of the mature stage. As the same time, the enterprises should make in-depth search for new business models and new technologies in the transmutation stage, the sustainable synergy between the ecological benefits and economic benefits of enterprises will be ensured in next new round of life cycle.

Theoretical and Practical Implications: In theory, this paper not only enriches the innovation theory with the traditional economic implication, but also enriches the connotation of ecological innovation, and fills in the complex relationships of different types of ecological innovation. In practice, this paper plays a certain role in how to promote the managers′ innovation idea about converting from over-emphasis on traditional mode of economic benefits by traditional innovation to co-created economic and ecological benefits by innovation with ecological rethinking in traditional resource-based manufacturing enterprises, it also helps managers in allocating the innovation resources to make a conducive innovation strategy so as to promote the ecological transformation of enterprises. It also helps enterprise managers to position themselves in the ecologically innovative strategy of resource allocation and restructuring. Moreover, it provides a certain reference for successfully achieving the enterprises′ transformation by choosing suitable ecological innovation fit model in the process of ecological and economic value co-created.

Research Limitations: This research only quantifies the fit degree of two ecological innovations, as well as divides different fit intervals. Based on this division result, the optimal fit mode of ecological innovation in different life cycle stages of enterprises is studied. However, the synergistic creation of ecological and economic benefit has not been analyzed from the perspective of fit results, which are not used to further analyze and compare the advantages and disadvantages of different fit modes about two ecological innovations in different stages of enterprises development. This series of questions will be further discussed in the future research.