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Understanding how digital transformation can enable SMEs to achieve sustainable development: A systematic literature review

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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are key drivers of economic growth and development. Innovation through digital transformation has the capacity to enable sustainability, competitiveness and customisation in products and services. However, adoption of digital technologies by SMEs to underpin sustainability outcomes is poorly understood. A systematic literature review identified an initial dataset of 1300 articles, which after screening and application of exclusion criteria resulted in a dataset of 64 articles for synthesis. Analysis was carried out according to three main areas, namely the technology aspects of digital transformation, sustainable development according to the triple bottom line (i.e. economic, environmental and social aspects), and the business characteristics of SMEs. In the latter case, business strategy and management, organizational structure, organizational culture, skills and qualifications, and leadership factors are identified from the literature. Furthermore, literature expressing the triple bottom line dimensions and the type of Industry 4.0 technology areas adopted are synthesized. Correlation of the data through bibliographic analysis is provided on the type of technology enabling SMEs towards a pathway for sustainable development as well as synthesis of future research directions arising from the study.

Suggested Citation

  • Philbin, Simon & Viswanathan, Radhakrishnan & Telukdarie, Arnesh, 2022. "Understanding how digital transformation can enable SMEs to achieve sustainable development: A systematic literature review," Small Business International Review, Asociación Española de Contabilidad y Administración de Empresas - AECA, vol. 6(1), pages 473-473, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aaz:sbir01:v:6:y:2022:i:1:p:e473
    DOI: 10.26784/sbir.v6i1.473
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Reginald Masocha, 2018. "Does Environmental Sustainability Impact Innovation, Ecological and Social Measures of Firm Performance of SMEs? Evidence from South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-11, October.
    2. Chun-Liang Chen, 2019. "Value Creation by SMEs Participating in Global Value Chains under Industry 4.0 Trend: Case Study of Textile Industry in Taiwan," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(2), pages 120-145, April.
    3. Wieslaw Urban & Krzysztof Łukaszewicz & Elżbieta Krawczyk-Dembicka, 2020. "Application of Industry 4.0 to the Product Development Process in Project-Type Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-20, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Viet Anh Ta & Chieh-Yu Lin, 2023. "Exploring the Determinants of Digital Transformation Adoption for SMEs in an Emerging Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Emmanuel Bruce & Zhao Shurong & Du Ying & Meng Yaqi & John Amoah & Sulemana Bankuoru Egala, 2023. "The Effect of Digital Marketing Adoption on SMEs Sustainable Growth: Empirical Evidence from Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-24, March.
    3. CHIRVASE Ciprian-Sorin & ZAMFIR Andreea, 2023. "The Influence Of Digital Transformation In The Service Sector To Drive Sustainability," Revista Economica, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 75(1), pages 109-120, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    small and medium-sized enterprise; SME; digital transformation; sustainability; sustainable development; systematic literature review; SLR;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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