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Sustainable Small Business Development and Digital Transformation

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2023) | Viewed by 64946

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Vincent Dutot

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Guest Editor

Department Supply Chain and Digital Management, EM Normandie Business School, Clichy, France
Interests: digital transformation; SMEs; social media; CSR; reputation; performance; IS strategic alignment

Dr. Constance Van Horne

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Guest Editor

Department of Communications, Guangdong Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, China
Interests: sustainable business models; digital entrepreneurship; social media SMEs

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The emergence of digital innovation and technologies can drive social and economic development (Oliveira et al., 2020). Digital innovation has shifted the traditional business economy into the digitalized one (Bukht and Heeks, 2018), and digital transformation of the economy is highly based upon big data and the advanced technologies. All types of businesses, and more specifically Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), face these challenges. This technological progress can maximize the opportunities for SMEs (Scuotto et al., 2019). The changes induced by the digital technologies in the organizations’ business model represent a real challenge for all organizations in general and for SMEs more specifically (Yousaf et al., 2021).

The pressure exerted on SMEs to commit in their digital transformation is combined with another request: addressing sustainable development issues (Golob et al., 2013) as defined in the Brundtland report (1987). This leads to strong paradoxical tensions (Smith and Lewis, 2011). Managerial changes resulting from digitalization have complex social and environmental consequences (“uberization”, carbon, footprint, etc.) (Bohnsack et al., 2019; Kauffman and Weber, 2018; Majchrzak, 2016) that can increase paradoxical tensions well studied in research on sustainability (Hahn et al., 2015, 2017): tensions between objectives, between levels, related to the change process, related to the context.

The current wave of digitalization due to COVID-19 is a double-edged sword. Key stakeholders must make sure that measures aimed at supporting digital transformation do so in a sustainable way—avoiding short-term thinking in investments and programs.

This Special Issue wishes to tackle the important issue of sustainable digitalization of small businesses. To do so, it seeks key contributions on (but not restricted to) the following topics:

Digital transformation of SMEs;
Sustainable digitalization (application);
Performance of sustainable technologies;
Impact of digital transformation on society;
SMEs and digital performance;
Environmental consequences of digital technologies;
Smart technologies.

Prof. Dr. Vincent Dutot
Dr. Constance Van Horne
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

SMEs
digital transformation
sustainability
performance
CSR
disruption
digitalization
environment
country
smart technologies

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 878 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Technology Acceptance in Management Accounting Tools’ Adoption in Public Sector Accounting: A Sustainability Perspective for Organizations

by Agus Joko Pramono, Suwarno, Firdaus Amyar and Renny Friska

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15334; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115334 - 26 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1633

Abstract

This quantitative research study delves into the adoption of management accounting tools (MATs) and their impact on organizational performance and sustainability within the provincial branches of the Supreme Audit Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan Republik Indonesia/BPK-RI). A well-structured research design and data collection approach is employed, where surveys are administered to 435 senior auditors within BPK-RI provincial branches. A robust data analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) through SmartPLS v4 software is conducted to assess the relationships between variables. This study provides compelling evidence that the perceived usefulness of MATs significantly impacts their adoption. This underscores the importance of how users perceive the utility of these tools. Furthermore, this research identifies that MATs’ adoption directly affects organizational performance and sustainability, highlighting the positive impact of these tools in the public sector. However, this research suggests that user perceptions of the ease of use of MATs do not significantly influence their adoption in the public sector accounting context. The study also reveals that MATs play a mediating role, facilitating the relationship between perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness and their subsequent impact on organizational performance and sustainability. These findings are valuable for public sector organizations, policy development, and future research initiatives, contributing to a better understanding of MATs’ adoption and its implications in the dynamic landscape of public sector accounting, especially in Indonesia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Small Business Development and Digital Transformation)

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22 pages, 799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Six-Sigma Reference Model for Industry 4.0 Implementations in Textile SMEs

by Santiago-Omar Caballero-Morales, Luis Cuautle-Gutiérrez, José-de-Jesús Cordero-Guridi and Ricardo-Iván Alvarez-Tamayo

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12589; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612589 - 19 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1275

Abstract

The textile and apparel industry is a major contributor to Latin American economies. However, in these economies the industry is characterized by limited technological infrastructure, which has led to inefficient performance and the significant generation of water, material, and product waste through its supply chain (SC). Currently, Industry 4.0 has led to important benefits in manufacturing industries, but its application in the textile field has been limited to few case studies. The present work expands on this aspect with a critical review of Industry 4.0 concepts and principles, and our main contribution consists of an implementation guideline model. The model was based on Six Sigma and the Rothwell and Zegveld model for continuous improvement and innovation projects in manufacturing and business enterprises. In each step, key aspects such as the specific skills of the interdisciplinary team, assessment tools, and implementation/prototyping tools are highlighted. A discussion of a case study is presented to support the applicability of the model for Industry 4.0 pilot projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Small Business Development and Digital Transformation)

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27 pages, 2878 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Role of Digital Transformation for Achieving Sustainability: Mediated Role of Stakeholders, Key Capabilities, and Technology

by Rafael Martínez-Peláez, Alberto Ochoa-Brust, Solange Rivera, Vanessa G. Félix, Rodolfo Ostos, Héctor Brito, Ramón A. Félix and Luis J. Mena

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11221; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411221 - 19 Jul 2023

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 38172

Abstract

Sustainability through digital transformation is essential for contemporary businesses. Embracing sustainability, micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can gain a competitive advantage, attracting customers and investors who share these values. Moreover, incorporating sustainable practices empowers MSMEs to drive innovation, reduce costs, and enhance their reputation. This study aims to identify how owners or senior managers of MSMEs can initiate a sustainable digital transformation project. A systematic literature review was carried out, including 59 publications from 2019 to 2023. As a result, this research identifies the first steps owners of MSMEs can take to begin the transition by identifying critical organizational capabilities necessary for successful transformation, explores the technologies that can support MSMEs in their sustainability goals, and emphasizes the significance of stakeholders in achieving a successful digital transformation journey. Firstly, owners or senior managers should change the organizational culture to support decisions and strategies focus on sustainability. Secondly, the leading role of stakeholders is in the innovation process that allows businesses to be more competitive locally and globally. Finally, big data is the technology that can provide the most significant benefit to MSMEs because it will enable analyzing data of all kinds and contributes disruptively to decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Small Business Development and Digital Transformation)

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16 pages, 1056 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Dynamic Cloud Capability in Improving SME’s Strategic Agility and Resource Flexibility: An Empirical Study

by Aleem Uddin, Dilek Cetindamar, Igor Hawryszkiewycz and Osama Sohaib

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8467; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118467 - 23 May 2023

Viewed by 1253

Abstract

This research explores how the cloud’s technological capability helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) adapt to challenging business environments, providing long-term sustainability and strategic agility. The article uses a theoretical and quantitative empirical approach, known as the positivist research paradigm, in offering a unique capability called dynamic cloud capability that leverages the cloud’s technological capabilities. Based on the quantitative analysis of 222 Australian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) SMEs, dynamic cloud capability favourably improves the flexible allocation of resources (resource fluidity) and the ability to adapt business models (strategic agility). Additionally, because of the successful mediating effect of resource fluidity, it is inferred that dynamic cloud capability allows for the flexible allocation of resources leading to improved strategic agility. Hence, adopting dynamic cloud capability in an organisation’s strategy would be particularly appealing to ICT SMEs as it has been verified to enhance adaptability to a challenging business environment and flexible allocation of resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Small Business Development and Digital Transformation)

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18 pages, 576 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Influence Mechanism of Enterprise Industrial Internet Standardization on Digital Innovation

by Liying Wang, Chunmiao Zhao, Wenyan Wei and Shengnan Li

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7347; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097347 - 28 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1075

Abstract

In the era of the digital economy, with the digital and intelligent transformation of the industry, technical complexity, and higher demand for the inter-operability of Industrial Internet platforms, standardization work faces challenges of timeliness and high quality. So, enterprises must improve the quality and efficiency of their digital innovation capabilities in the dynamic process of Industrial Internet standardization. Given this condition, based on the digital innovation theory, standardization theory, and social network theory, this paper takes 387 A-share-listed enterprises in the field of Industrial Internet industry as the research object and uses the secondhand cross-sectional data to carry out the research on the influence mechanism of enterprise Industrial Internet standardization on the digital innovation capabilities of enterprises. The results show that: enterprise Industrial Internet standardization exerts a positive influence on the digital innovation capability of enterprises; a standard alliance network in the enterprise Industrial Internet standardization plays an intermediary role in the digital innovation capability of enterprises; and the scale of enterprises has a positive moderating effect on the intermediary role of a standard alliance network between the enterprise Industrial Internet standardization and the digital innovation capability of enterprises. From the perspective of the alliance network effect, the research explores the economic consequences of standardization construction and enriches the appraisal of the standardization capability of enterprises for the purpose of providing targeted empirical evidence and practical strategies for the standard-based digital innovation of Industrial Internet enterprises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Small Business Development and Digital Transformation)

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18 pages, 662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

When Do You Enter? Entrepreneurial Firms’ Entry Timing and Product Performance in the Digital Platform Market

by Xuelin Chen, Dongmei Zhou, Ziying Zhan and Ruoyu Lu

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5313; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065313 - 16 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1510

Abstract

The digital platform market has evolved into a critical location for firms to engage in innovation and entrepreneurship. However, there is no clear answer to the question of when entrepreneurial firms should enter the digital platform market in order to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. A balanced panel and an individual fixed effect model were built using monthly product data from game developers on the Steam platform. Furthermore, in accordance with first-mover advantage theory, this study empirically investigated the impact of entry timing on product performance of entrepreneurial firms in the digital platform market, as well as the moderating effect of product updates. The results show that the impact of entrepreneurial firms’ entry timing on product performance in the digital platform market has a U-shaped relationship, which is moderated by product updates. These findings not only have implications for entrepreneurs looking to compete in the digital platform market, but also contribute to the sustainable development of the digital platform ecosystem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Small Business Development and Digital Transformation)

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21 pages, 1934 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Dynamic Capabilities and Digital Transformation Improve Business Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Insights from Beekeeping MSMEs in Indonesia

by Jaisy Aghniarahim Putritamara, Budi Hartono, Hery Toiba, Hamidah Nayati Utami, Moh Shadiqur Rahman and Dewi Masyithoh

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1760; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031760 - 17 Jan 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4476

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of Dynamic Capabilities (DC) and Digital Transformation (DT) on Business Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Using cross-sectional data from 388 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of beekeeping in Indonesia. Furthermore, the data were analyzed by Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis and executed by SmartPLS 3.0 software. The main results of this study indicate that DC plays an important role in improving MSMEs’ DT. However, the essential role of DT on firm resilience only happened for micro, small, and medium firms of family businesses. However, DT has an insignificant effect on firm resilience in small nonfamily businesses. Yet, the effect of DC on firm resilience is mediated by DT. Nevertheless, our empirical findings indicate heterogeneous effects among micro, small, and medium firms. Based on the study’s findings, we suggested that the policy implication in developing beekeeping firms should be more specific based on the firm scale. The results of this study can be generalized to the national level to inform decision-making regarding the intangible assets of MSME livestock products in developing countries. The findings are also relevant to other livestock products, which tend to be dynamic during a crisis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Small Business Development and Digital Transformation)

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14 pages, 475 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Purchase Intention and Satisfaction of Online Shop Users in Developing Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Elizabeth Emperatriz García-Salirrosas, Ángel Acevedo-Duque, Viviana Marin Chaves, Paula Andrea Mejía Henao and Juan Carlos Olaya Molano

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6302; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106302 - 22 May 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6298

Abstract

The aim of the research is to gain an understanding of consumer behavior in developing countries in the electronic environment. For this purpose, the four constructs of the PREVEINCOSA scale were analyzed: purchase intention as the dependent variable and trust, perceived value, and satisfaction as the determining variables of the former. For this purpose, by means of convenience sampling, an online questionnaire was shared with citizens in Mexico, Peru, and Colombia. A total of 330 questionnaires were collected from people who knew or had bought clothes in an online shop of the small company. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to validate the model and test the hypotheses. The results indicate that trust and satisfaction directly and positively influence value perception and online purchase intention and that value perception directly and positively influences online purchase intention of the small business consumer in Mexico, Peru, and Colombia. These results may be useful for the small fashion business sector in developing countries since it is observed that the online sales channel is not yet developed, which makes it necessary to develop strategies to reach customers in a more effective way. On the other hand, given the importance of this sector for the economy of developing countries, this study can be useful to governments who can establish public policies to provide training and technical assistance to benefit the development and competitiveness of this sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Small Business Development and Digital Transformation)

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16 pages, 968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

PERVAINCONSA Scale to Measure the Consumer Behavior of Online Stores of MSMEs Engaged in the Sale of Clothing

by Elizabeth Emperatriz García-Salirrosas and Ángel Acevedo-Duque

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2638; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052638 - 24 Feb 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7956

Abstract

The objective of the research was to validate an instrument designed to measure the variables value perception, purchase intention, trust, and satisfaction of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) dedicated to selling clothing. The PERVAINCONSA Scale (acrostic formed with the initial letters of the Spanish words “Percepción de Valor”, “Intención de Compra”, “Confianza” and “Satisfacción”) was constructed. A total of 238 questionnaires were collected from users of online clothing stores in Peru, Mexico, and Colombia (38.7% men and 61.3% women) with an average age of 24.29 years (SD = 8.04). The KMO and Barlett’s test was 0.958. Confirmatory factor analysis provided an excellent model (χ2 = 372.76, gl = 164; χ2/df = 2.27; CFI = 0.956; RMSEA = 0.073, SRMR = 0.035; and Pclose = 0.00). The model showed good scale reliability given that the composite reliability index (CFI), and all values exceeded the minimum threshold of 0.6. The results suggest that this first version of the PERVAINCONSA presents adequate psychometric evidence to measure value perception, purchase intention, trust and satisfaction in consumers of online stores in Peru, Mexico and Colombia. Thus, it seeks to contribute to the advancement of the scientific study of these important variables in the study of consumer behavior in Latin America. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Small Business Development and Digital Transformation)

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