IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bjw/econen/v15y2025i3p21-43.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluating digital transformation preparedness among Vietnamese enterprises

Author

Listed:
  • Thuan Nguyen

    (Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

  • Ly Thi Thao Dang

    (Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

Abstract

Amid Vietnam’s ongoing digital transformation, this study evaluates the readiness of Vietnamese enterprises for comprehensive digital change, identifying a significant gap in their preparedness for Industry 4.0. The research employs a mixed-methods approach. Initially, in-depth interviews with 10 enterprise leaders uncover detailed perceptions regarding digital capacity and transformation management capabilities, aiming to provide nuanced qualitative insights into the specific challenges and opportunities faced during digital transformation. Following this, a survey of 352 enterprises quantitatively assesses their digital transformation maturity, focusing on digital and transformation management capabilities. The survey’s data analysis identifies trends and patterns across different sectors and enterprise sizes. Specifically, it reveals that Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in services are at an early stage of Digital Mastery, while those in manufacturing remain beginners; Private Large Enterprises (PLEs) are early-stage Digital Masters but lag behind Foreign-Invested Enterprises (FIEs). These findings, analyzed through established transformation management theories, highlight the need for targeted strategies to enhance digital readiness, foster innovation, and implement supportive policies to ensure sustainable growth and competitiveness in the digital era.

Suggested Citation

  • Thuan Nguyen & Ly Thi Thao Dang, 2025. "Evaluating digital transformation preparedness among Vietnamese enterprises," HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE - ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY, vol. 15(3), pages 21-43.
    • Handle: RePEc:bjw:econen:v:15:y:2025:i:3:p:21-43
    DOI: 10.46223/HCMCOUJS.econ.en.15.3.3349.2025
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journalofscience.ou.edu.vn/index.php/econ-en/article/view/3349/2249
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.46223/HCMCOUJS.econ.en.15.3.3349.2025?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matt, C. & Hess, Thomas & Benlian, Alexander, 2015. "Digital Transformation Strategies," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 75202, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    2. Tahereh Hasani & Norman O’Reilly & Ali Dehghantanha & Davar Rezania & Nadège Levallet, 2023. "Evaluating the adoption of cybersecurity and its influence on organizational performance," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(5), pages 1-38, May.
    3. Christian Matt & Thomas Hess & Alexander Benlian, 2015. "Digital Transformation Strategies," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 57(5), pages 339-343, October.
    4. Ahmed Bounfour, 2016. "Digital Futures, Digital Transformation," Progress in IS, Springer, edition 1, number 978-3-319-23279-9, September.
    5. Swen Nadkarni & Reinhard Prügl, 2021. "Digital transformation: a review, synthesis and opportunities for future research," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(2), pages 233-341, April.
    6. Francesca de Nicola & Xavier Cirera & Smita Kuriakose & Andrew D. Mason & Davide S. Mare & Trang Thu Tran & Davide S. Mare, 2021. "The Innovation Imperative for Developing East Asia," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 35139, April.
    7. Dmitry Ivanov & Alexandre Dolgui & Boris Sokolov, 2019. "The impact of digital technology and Industry 4.0 on the ripple effect and supply chain risk analytics," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(3), pages 829-846, February.
    8. Hess, Thomas & Matt, Christian & Benlian, Alexander & Wiesböck, Florian, 2016. "Options for Formulating a Digital Transformation Strategy," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 81032, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    9. Matt, C. & Hess, Thomas & Benlian, Alexander, 2015. "Digital Transformation Strategies," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 75002, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    10. Muhammad Asif & Liu Yang & Muhammad Hashim, 2024. "The Role of Digital Transformation, Corporate Culture, and Leadership in Enhancing Corporate Sustainable Performance in the Manufacturing Sector of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-31, March.
    11. Hess, Thomas & Matt, Christian & Benlian, Alexander & Wiesböck, Florian, 2016. "Options for Formulating a Digital Transformation Strategy," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 82423, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Piepponen, Amanda & Ritala, Paavo & Keränen, Joona & Maijanen, Päivi, 2022. "Digital transformation of the value proposition: A single case study in the media industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 311-325.
    2. McCarthy, Pat & Sammon, David & Alhassan, Ibrahim, 2024. "The characteristics of digital transformation leadership: Theorizing the practitioner voice," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 411-423.
    3. Na Xu & Wendong Lv & Junli Wang, 2024. "The impact of digital transformation on firm performance: a perspective from enterprise risk management," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 14(2), pages 369-400, June.
    4. Mishra, Deepa Bhatt & Haider, Imran & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Sakib, Md. Nazmus & Malik, Nishtha & Rana, Nripendra P., 2023. "“Better together”: Right blend of business strategy and digital transformation strategies," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    5. Evangelos Katsamakas, 2022. "Digital Transformation and Sustainable Business Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-5, May.
    6. Pilková, Anna & Kovačičova, Zuzana, 2021. "Podnikanie na Slovensku v dobe digitalizácie optikou generácií [Doing business in Slovakia in the era of digitalization through the lens of generations]," MPRA Paper 113391, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Swen Nadkarni & Reinhard Prügl, 2021. "Digital transformation: a review, synthesis and opportunities for future research," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(2), pages 233-341, April.
    8. Ander, Veronika & Cihelka, Petr & Tyrychtr, Jan & Novák, David, 2022. "Towards Compromise User Experience Design in Ambient Intelligent Environment," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 14(2), June.
    9. Xin Zhang & Yaoyu Xu & Liang Ma, 2022. "Research on Successful Factors and Influencing Mechanism of the Digital Transformation in SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, February.
    10. Coskun-Setirek, Abide & Tanrikulu, Zuhal, 2021. "Digital innovations-driven business model regeneration: A process model," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    11. Chun-Liang Chen & Yao-Chin Lin & Wei-Hung Chen & Cheng-Fu Chao & Henry Pandia, 2021. "Role of Government to Enhance Digital Transformation in Small Service Business," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-24, January.
    12. 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.
    13. Sascha Kraus & Paul Jones & Norbert Kailer & Alexandra Weinmann & Nuria Chaparro-Banegas & Norat Roig-Tierno, 2021. "Digital Transformation: An Overview of the Current State of the Art of Research," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, September.
    14. Siachou, Evangelia & Vrontis, Demetris & Trichina, Eleni, 2021. "Can traditional organizations be digitally transformed by themselves? The moderating role of absorptive capacity and strategic interdependence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 408-421.
    15. T. O. Tolstykh & E. V. Shkarupeta & L. A. Gamidullayeva, 2018. "Digital innovative production on the basis of formation of an ecosystem of services and resources," Russian Journal of Industrial Economics, MISIS, vol. 11(2).
    16. Ritala, Paavo & Baiyere, Abayomi & Hughes, Mathew & Kraus, Sascha, 2021. "Digital strategy implementation: The role of individual entrepreneurial orientation and relational capital," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    17. Chen, Yu & Wang, Yuandi & Zhao, Changyi, 2024. "From riches to digitalization: The role of AMC in overcoming challenges of digital transformation in resource-rich regions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    18. Burström, Thommie & Parida, Vinit & Lahti, Tom & Wincent, Joakim, 2021. "AI-enabled business-model innovation and transformation in industrial ecosystems: A framework, model and outline for further research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 85-95.
    19. Schubert, Torben & Ashouri, Sajad & Deschryvere, Matthias & Jäger, Angela & Visentin, Fabiana & Cunningham, Scott & Hajikhani, Arash & Pukelis, Lukas & Suominen, Arho, 2023. "The role of product digitization for productivity," MERIT Working Papers 2023-004, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    20. Jinhyo Joseph Yun & Zheng Liu & Euiseob Jeong & Sangwoo Kim & Kyunghun Kim, 2022. "The Difference in Open Innovation between Open Access and Closed Access, According to the Change of Collective Intelligence and Knowledge Amount," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • E00 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - General
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

    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:bjw:econen:v:15:y:2025:i:3:p:21-43. 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: Vu Tuan Truong (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journalofscience.ou.edu.vn/index.php/econ-en .

    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.