IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/fan/macoma/vhtml10.3280-maco2022-002-s1004.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digital transformation: Is Covid-19 a catalyst for micro and small enterprises first steps toward innovation?

Author

Listed:
  • Francesca Culasso
  • Elisa Giacosa
  • Daniele Giordino
  • Edoardo Crocco

Abstract

The recent Covid-19 pandemic has deeply affected the financial health of com-panies all over the globe. Small and micro enterprises are more vulnerable due to their limited financial resources and lack of specialized knowledge. This article ex-plores the impact of the pandemic on the early stage of small companies? Digital Transformation (DT), and its effect on the barriers to DT. The authors adopted an inductive qualitative approach and engaged in purposeful sampling to investigate micro and small enterprises operating in Piedmont, Italy, that were at the earliest stage of their DT journey. The final sample included 11 unique cases, involving a total of 49 interviews. The results show that the Covid-19 pandemic did not act as a catalyst to the DT of small and micro enterprises, instead sharpening the barriers to DT. The paper provides owners, managers, investors, politicians, and territorial institutions with a better understanding of the tools and initiatives that must be implemented to foster small and micro enterprises? DT. The research, due to the selected sample, is limited to small companies? personnel and to their owners' ex-periences

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Culasso & Elisa Giacosa & Daniele Giordino & Edoardo Crocco, 2022. "Digital transformation: Is Covid-19 a catalyst for micro and small enterprises first steps toward innovation?," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2022(2 Suppl.), pages 71-94.
    • Handle: RePEc:fan:macoma:v:html10.3280/maco2022-002-s1004
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=71309&Tipo=ArticoloPDF
    Download Restriction: Single articles can be downloaded buying download credits, for info: https://www.francoangeli.it/DownloadCredit
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elya Kurniawati & Idris Idris & Puji Handayati & Sharina Osman, 2021. "Digital transformation of MSMEs in Indonesia during the pandemic," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 9(2), pages 316-331, December.
    2. Giuseppe Catturi, 2021. "Potere aziendale, pandemia e smart working," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2021(suppl. 2), pages 15-38.
    3. Rahmiye Figen Ceylan & Burhan Ozkan & Esra Mulazimogullari, 2020. "Historical evidence for economic effects of COVID-19," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 21(6), pages 817-823, August.
    4. Roberto Del Gobbo, 2013. "Accounting Information Systems and Knowledge Management Systems: An Integrated Approach for Strategic Control," Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organization, in: Daniela Mancini & Eddy H. J. Vaassen & Renata Paola Dameri (ed.), Accounting Information Systems for Decision Making, edition 127, pages 139-149, Springer.
    5. Laura Broccardo & Francesca Culasso & Elisa Truant, 2019. "Business process and innovation management: the situation of SMEs in Italy," Global Business and Economics Review, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 21(2), pages 232-245.
    6. Laura Broccardo & Elisa Giacosa & Francesca Culasso & Alberto Ferraris, 2017. "Management control in Italian SMEs," Global Business and Economics Review, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 19(5), pages 632-647.
    7. Simona Alfiero & Laura Broccardo & Massimo Cane & Alfredo Esposito, 2018. "High Performance Through Innovation Process Management in SMEs. Evidence from the Italian wine sector," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(3), pages 87-110.
    8. Brush, Candida G. & Ceru, Dennis J. & Blackburn, Robert, 2009. "Pathways to entrepreneurial growth: The influence of management, marketing, and money," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 52(5), pages 481-491, September.
    9. Capucine Riom & Anna Valero, 2020. "Innovation in the time of Covid-19," CentrePiece - The magazine for economic performance 590, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    10. Paola Paoloni & Antonietta Cosentino & Barbara Iannone, 2021. "L?attitudine delle imprese al cambiamento durante le crisi sistemiche. Spunti dal settore agroalimentare," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2021(suppl. 2), pages 241-264.
    11. Ann Markusen, 2003. "Fuzzy Concepts, Scanty Evidence, Policy Distance: The Case for Rigour and Policy Relevance in Critical Regional Studies," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(6-7), pages 701-717.
    12. Agata Marcysiak & Żanna Pleskacz, 2021. "Determinants of digitization in SMEs," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 9(1), pages 300-318, September.
    13. Peter M. Bican & Alexander Brem, 2020. "Digital Business Model, Digital Transformation, Digital Entrepreneurship: Is There A Sustainable “Digital”?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-15, June.
    14. Matarazzo, Michela & Penco, Lara & Profumo, Giorgia & Quaglia, Roberto, 2021. "Digital transformation and customer value creation in Made in Italy SMEs: A dynamic capabilities perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 642-656.
    15. Tijan, Edvard & Jović, Marija & Aksentijević, Saša & Pucihar, Andreja, 2021. "Digital transformation in the maritime transport sector," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    16. Fletcher, Gordon & Griffiths, Marie, 2020. "Digital transformation during a lockdown," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    17. Truant, Elisa & Broccardo, Laura & Dana, Léo-Paul, 2021. "Digitalisation boosts company performance: an overview of Italian listed companies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    18. Pier Luigi Marchini & Alice Medioli & Laura Belli & Luca Davoli, 2019. "Internet of Things e Industria 4.0. Un case study di successo di digital manufacturing," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2019(3), pages 11-34.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Guido Noto & Carmelo Marisca & Gustavo Barresi, 2023. "I "pacchetti" di controllo manageriale nei team virtuali," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(3), pages 43-62.
    2. Fabio Nappo & Alessandra Lardo & Maria Teresa Bianchi & Federico Schimperna, 2023. "The impact of digitalisation on professional football clubs," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(2), pages 117-136.
    3. Paola Paoloni & Martina Manzo & Veronica Procacci, 2023. "The impact of the pandemic crisis on the digital transition process of Italian SMEs," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(2 Suppl.), pages 83-107.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Paola Paoloni & Martina Manzo & Veronica Procacci, 2023. "The impact of the pandemic crisis on the digital transition process of Italian SMEs," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(2 Suppl.), pages 83-107.
    2. Daniela Roxana Vuță & Eliza Nichifor & Ioana Bianca Chițu & Gabriel Brătucu, 2022. "Digital Transformation—Top Priority in Difficult Times: The Case Study of Romanian Micro-Enterprises and SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Fabio Nappo & Alessandra Lardo & Maria Teresa Bianchi & Federico Schimperna, 2023. "The impact of digitalisation on professional football clubs," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(2), pages 117-136.
    4. Khorshed Alam & Mohammad Afshar Ali & Michael O. Erdiaw-Kwasie & Peter A. Murray & Retha Wiesner, 2022. "Digital Transformation among SMEs: Does Gender Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-20, January.
    5. Merín-Rodrigáñez, Joan & Dasí, Àngels & Alegre, Joaquín, 2024. "Digital transformation and firm performance in innovative SMEs: The mediating role of business model innovation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    6. Nelson DUARTE & Carla PEREIRA & Ricardo SANTOS & António AMARAL & Davide CARNEIRO, 2020. "The Role Of Digital Maturity In The Knowledge Based Economy," Scientific Bulletin - Economic Sciences, University of Pitesti, vol. 19(3), pages 79-88.
    7. Guo, Bin & Zhang, Jiale & Tan, Ziyan, 2024. "Firm digitalization as strategic response: An integrated model based on the awareness-motivation-capability (AMC) framework," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    8. Zhou, Shuya & Zhou, Peiyan & Ji, Hannah, 2022. "Can digital transformation alleviate corporate tax stickiness: The mediation effect of tax avoidance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    9. Marino-Romero, Jorge Alberto & Palos-Sánchez, Pedro R. & Velicia-Martín, Félix, 2024. "Evolution of digital transformation in SMEs management through a bibliometric analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    10. Hua Feng & Fengyan Wang & Guomin Song & Lanlan Liu, 2022. "Digital Transformation on Enterprise Green Innovation: Effect and Transmission Mechanism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-31, August.
    11. Fang, Mingyue & Nie, Huihua & Shen, Xinyi, 2023. "Can enterprise digitization improve ESG performance?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    12. Long Xue & Qianyu Zhang & Xuemang Zhang & Chengyu Li, 2022. "Can Digital Transformation Promote Green Technology Innovation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-20, June.
    13. Chwiłkowska-Kubala, Anna & Cyfert, Szymon & Malewska, Kamila & Mierzejewska, Katarzyna & Szumowski, Witold, 2023. "The impact of resources on digital transformation in energy sector companies. The role of readiness for digital transformation," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    14. Simone Carmine & Valentina De Marchi, 2023. "Reviewing Paradox Theory in Corporate Sustainability Toward a Systems Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(1), pages 139-158, April.
    15. Doloreux, David & Parto, Saeed, 2005. "Regional innovation systems: Current discourse and unresolved issues," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 133-153.
    16. Rosa Lombardi & Raffaele Trequattrini & Federico Schimperna & Myriam Cano-Rubio, 2021. "The Impact of Smart Technologies on theManagement and Strategic Control: A Structured Literature Review," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2021(suppl. 1), pages 11-30.
    17. Yusuf, Fatima & Yousaf, Amna & Saeed, Abubakr, 2018. "Rethinking agency theory in developing countries: A case study of Pakistan," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 281-292.
    18. Cong Cheng & Hongfang Cui, 2024. "Combining digital and legacy technologies: firm digital transformation strategies—evidence from Chinese manufacturing companies," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    19. Sedlacek Sabine & Kurka Bernhard & Maier Gunther, 2009. "Regional identity: a key to overcome structural weaknesses in peripheral rural regions?," European Countryside, Sciendo, vol. 1(4), pages 180-201, January.
    20. Zahoor, Nadia & Zopiatis, Anastasios & Adomako, Samuel & Lamprinakos, Grigorios, 2023. "The micro-foundations of digitally transforming SMEs: How digital literacy and technology interact with managerial attributes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:fan:macoma:v:html10.3280/maco2022-002-s1004. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Stefania Rosato (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/sommario.aspx?IDRivista=166 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.