This paper innovatively integrates digital transformation data with dialect data, uses the population-weighted approach to quantify cultural diversity, and empirically tests the impact of cultural diversity on digital transformation. The study finds that the diversity of regional cultures significantly promotes enterprise digital transformation, which is mainly achieved through two paths: enhancing organizational inclusiveness of enterprises and stimulating innovation ability of members. Further subdividing digital transformation, it is found that cultural diversity promotes enterprises to achieve higher dimensions of digital transformation, and play a facilitating role in both the underlying technology level and practical application level of digital transformation. However, excessive differences in regional dialects may weaken the promoting effect of cultural diversity. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the nature of enterprises, capital and technology base, dialect background of executives, and external shocks will affect the effect of cultural diversity. From the new perspective of regional culture, this paper deepens the theoretical understanding of the impact of cultural diversity, enriches the literature on the drivers of digital transformation, and provides guidance for enterprises to effectively promote digital transformation.

Foreign Economics & Management
JIN Yuying, Editor-in-Chief
ZhengChunrong, Vice Executive Editor-in-Chief
YinHuifang HeXiaogang LiuJianguo, Vice Editor-in-Chief
Cultural Diversity and Digital Transformation: Evidence from Dialects
Foreign Economics & Management Vol. 47, Issue 06, pp. 71 - 86 (2025) DOI:10.16538/j.cnki.fem.20240701.401
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Zhang Feng, Jia Ru. Cultural Diversity and Digital Transformation: Evidence from Dialects[J]. Foreign Economics & Management, 2025, 47(6): 71-86.
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