IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v200y2024ics0040162523007230.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A study on the strategic momentum of SMEs’ digital transformation: Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Jia, Junbo
  • Xu, Yusen
  • Li, Wenli

Abstract

The digital transformation of Chinese SMEs faces the reality of slow start-up and difficult deepening. Considering the multi-stage characteristics of SMEs' digital transformation, this article is drawn on the theory of strategic momentum and the TOE framework is improved to examine the process of Chinese SMEs' digital transformation from the dimensions of response speed and implementation depth. Data from 221SMEs is analyzed through the fsQCA to explore the complex interactions between digital technology, organization, environment and the initial and deepening stages of Chinese SMEs' digital transformation. Three key findings are revealed. Firstly, to effectively promote the initiation speed and implementation depth of SMEs' digital transformation, a collaborative effort is required by entrepreneurs, digital service companies, customers, and government. Secondly, external factors have a significant promoting effect on both the initial and deepening stage of SMEs' digital transformation. Of particular note is the usability of digital technology, which is indicated to be a crucial factor for both the initial and integration stage. This indicates that SMEs exhibit a heightened sensitivity to the complexity and future uncertainty of digital technologies. Thirdly, by promoting the digitalization of industrial clusters, the deepening stage can be facilitated effectively by governments.

Suggested Citation

  • Jia, Junbo & Xu, Yusen & Li, Wenli, 2024. "A study on the strategic momentum of SMEs’ digital transformation: Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:200:y:2024:i:c:s0040162523007230
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2023.123038
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162523007230
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.123038?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

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

    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:eee:tefoso:v:200:y:2024:i:c:s0040162523007230. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    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.