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The right digital strategy for your business: an empirical analysis of the design and implementation of digital strategies in SMEs and LSEs

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  • Wolfgang Becker
  • Oliver Schmid

Abstract

The importance of digitalization continues to grow, with companies from all sectors and of various sizes subject to this influence. To remain competitive in the future, companies must recognize and overcome the opportunities and challenges of digitalization in the long term. To do this, companies can develop an entire digitization strategy that affects all areas of the business, enabling them to achieve a holistic digital transformation and ensure their survival in the digital age. Based on a qualitative–empirical research design, this study examines whether small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises (LSEs) have such a strategy, and how it is structured. In particular, it addresses the use of new technology, changes in value added, structural changes and the financing of digitalization. At the same time, there is an examination of any similarities and differences among the different company sizes.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolfgang Becker & Oliver Schmid, 2020. "The right digital strategy for your business: an empirical analysis of the design and implementation of digital strategies in SMEs and LSEs," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 13(3), pages 985-1005, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:busres:v:13:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s40685-020-00124-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s40685-020-00124-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Rajesh Chidananda Reddy & Biplab Bhattacharjee & Debasisha Mishra & Anandadeep Mandal, 2022. "A systematic literature review towards a conceptual framework for enablers and barriers of an enterprise data science strategy," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 223-255, March.
    3. Fotis Kitsios & Maria Kamariotou, 2021. "Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy towards Digital Transformation: A Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Roland Z. Szabó & Borbála Szedmák & Anna Tajti & Péter Bera, 2023. "Environmental Sustainability, Digitalisation, and the Entrepreneurial Perception of Distances as Drivers of SMEs’ Internationalisation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    5. Maria Kamariotou & Fotis Kitsios & Michael Madas, 2021. "E-Business Strategy for Logistics Companies: Achieving Success through Information Systems Planning," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-9, October.
    6. Fleury, Afonso & Fleury, Maria Tereza Leme & Oliveira, Luis & Leao, Pablo, 2024. "Going digital EMNEs: The role of digital maturity capability," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(4).
    7. Kraus, Sascha & Vonmetz, Katharina & Bullini Orlandi, Ludovico & Zardini, Alessandro & Rossignoli, Cecilia, 2023. "Digital entrepreneurship: The role of entrepreneurial orientation and digitalization for disruptive innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    8. Maria Kamariotou & Fotis Kitsios, 2024. "Information systems and strategy-as-practice in the digital era: an artificial neural network model for SMEs," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 1-20, September.
    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).

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    Digital strategy; SME; LSE;
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