IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i18p8465-d1754355.html

Digital Maturity as a Driver of Sustainable Development Goal Achievement in Polish Enterprises: Evidence from Empirical Research

Author

Listed:
  • Magdalena Jaciow

    (Department of Digital Economy Research, Faculty of Economics, University of Economics in Katowice, 40-287 Katowice, Poland)

  • Kinga Hoffmann-Burdzińska

    (Department of Digital Economy Research, Faculty of Economics, University of Economics in Katowice, 40-287 Katowice, Poland)

  • Izabela Marzec

    (Department of Digital Economy Research, Faculty of Economics, University of Economics in Katowice, 40-287 Katowice, Poland)

  • Łukasz Rzońca

    (The Doctoral School, University of Economics in Katowice, 40-287 Katowice, Poland)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to assess the digital maturity of Polish enterprises and to identify the most and least developed dimensions of maturity within these organizations in the context of their potential to achieve sustainable development goals. The authors pose research questions regarding the overall level of digital maturity in Polish enterprises, its variation depending on the type of business activity, and the specific dimensions of digital maturity that were rated the highest and lowest. The main thesis of the article assumes that the level of digital maturity determines a company’s sustainable orientation. The article presents the results of empirical research conducted among 697 Polish enterprises operating in the manufacturing, trade, and service sectors. The study employed the seven-dimensional Digitalcheck Mittelstand model for assessing digital maturity. The average scores of digital maturity, both by industry and by specific dimensions, were mapped to six levels of digital maturity adapted for Polish enterprises. The findings confirm that Polish enterprises demonstrate a moderate level of digital maturity. Among the analyzed sectors, manufacturing enterprises exhibit the highest level of maturity. The study also confirmed that the highest maturity levels are observed in the areas of organization and processes. Conversely, the lowest level of digital advancement is found in the environmental dimension, indicating a gap in aligning corporate strategies with green funding programs and eco-initiatives. Future research should take into account causal mechanisms and disruptive factors affecting digital transformation in organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Magdalena Jaciow & Kinga Hoffmann-Burdzińska & Izabela Marzec & Łukasz Rzońca, 2025. "Digital Maturity as a Driver of Sustainable Development Goal Achievement in Polish Enterprises: Evidence from Empirical Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-30, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8465-:d:1754355
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/18/8465/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/18/8465/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kotiranta, Annu & Puumalainen, Kaisu & Sjögren, Helena & Dana, Léo-Paul, 2024. "Digitalization as a growth driver for social enterprises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    2. Mazzucato, Mariana & Semieniuk, Gregor, 2018. "Financing renewable energy: Who is financing what and why it matters," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 8-22.
    3. Songling Yang & Yafei Tai & Jianing Liu, 2024. "Mechanism Analysis and Path Study of Digital Transformation on Corporate Governance: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-24, October.
    4. He, Tong & Liu, Martin J & Phang, Chee Wei & Luo, Jun, 2022. "Toward social enterprise sustainability: The role of digital hybridity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    5. Dani Rodrik, 2014. "Green industrial policy," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 30(3), pages 469-491.
    6. Anna Irimiás & Ariel Mitev, 2020. "Change Management, Digital Maturity, and Green Development: Are Successful Firms Leveraging on Sustainability?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-13, May.
    7. Robert Wolny & Jakub Kol & Agata Stolecka-Makowska & Grzegorz Szojda, 2025. "Digital Consumer Behavior in Poland and Its Environmental Impact Within the Framework of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-27, May.
    8. David J. Teece, 2007. "Explicating dynamic capabilities: the nature and microfoundations of (sustainable) enterprise performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(13), pages 1319-1350, December.
    9. Bentley Allan & Joanna I. Lewis & Thomas Oatley, 2021. "Green Industrial Policy and the Global Transformation of Climate Politics," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 21(4), pages 1-19, Autumn.
    10. Dominik Kowal & Małgorzata Radzik & Lucia Domaracká, 2024. "Assessment of the Level of Digitalization of Polish Enterprises in the Context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-25, July.
    11. Zhiying Ji & Tingyu Zhou & Qian Zhang, 2023. "The Impact of Digital Transformation on Corporate Sustainability: Evidence from Listed Companies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, January.
    12. Zofia Pawłowska & Szymon Ordysiński & Małgorzata Pęciłło & Magdalena Galwas-Grzeszkiewicz, 2025. "A Study of Working Conditions in Platform Work," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-18, July.
    13. Roman Teichert, 2019. "Digital Transformation Maturity: A Systematic Review of Literature," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 67(6), pages 1673-1687.
    14. Maria Kocot & Artur Kwasek & Magdalena Maciaszczyk & Małgorzata Golińska-Pieszyńska & Igor Protasowicki & Krzysztof Kandefer & Janusz Soboń, 2024. "The Role of Employee Competencies in the Sustainable Development and Energy Efficiency of Agile Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-13, November.
    15. Rafael-Leonardo Ochoa-Urrego & José-Ismael Peña-Reyes, 2021. "Digital Maturity Models: A Systematic Literature Review," Management for Professionals, in: Daniel R. A. Schallmo & Joseph Tidd (ed.), Digitalization, edition 1, pages 71-85, Springer.
    16. Katarzyna Andruszkiewicz & Tomasz Wierzejski & Marek Siemiński, 2024. "The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development Practices on Employer Branding—A Case Study of an International Corporation Operating in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-16, March.
    17. Anna Kwiotkowska, 2024. "Creating Organizational Resilience through Digital Transformation and Dynamic Capabilities: Findings from fs/QCA Analysis on the Example of Polish CHP Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-18, July.
    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. Panta Maria & Xygkogianni Maria, 2025. "Digital Maturity in SMEs: A Systematic Synthesis Review and Framework Selection Guidance," Business & Entrepreneurship Journal, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 14(2), pages 1-1.

    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. Pinto, Marcelo Rezende & Salume, Paula Karina & Barbosa, Marcelo Werneck & de Sousa, Paulo Renato, 2023. "The path to digital maturity: A cluster analysis of the retail industry in an emerging economy," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    2. Jonas Meckling & Jesse Strecker, 2023. "Green bargains: leveraging public investment to advance climate regulation," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(4), pages 418-429, April.
    3. Hasselbalch, Jacob & Larsen, Mathias, 2026. "Reimagining growth futures: Overcoming the false binary between green growth and degrowth," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    4. Arnaud Sergent & Andy Smith, 2024. "A meso-political economy of how climate issues impact regulation: the case of the wood industry in France," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 105(1), pages 125-149, August.
    5. Suliman Ben Ghrbeia & Ahmad Alzubi, 2024. "Building Micro-Foundations for Digital Transformation: A Moderated Mediation Model of the Interplay between Digital Literacy and Digital Transformation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-28, April.
    6. Daniel J. Caron & Vincent Nicolini, 2025. "Modèle de maturité numérique pour les établissements de santé au Québec," CIRANO Project Reports 2025rp-16, CIRANO.
    7. Joan Torrent‐Sellens & Pilar Ficapal‐Cusí & Mihaela Enache‐Zegheru, 2023. "Boosting environmental management: The mediating role of Industry 4.0 between environmental assets and economic and social firm performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 753-768, January.
    8. Matsuo, Tyeler & Schmidt, Tobias S., 2019. "Managing tradeoffs in green industrial policies: The role of renewable energy policy design," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 11-26.
    9. Shen, Wei & Ayele, Seife & Worako, Tadesse Kuma, 2023. "The political economy of green industrial policy in Africa: Unpacking the coordination challenges in Ethiopia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    10. Weizeng Sun & Jianfeng Wu & Hongchang Yang, 2024. "Increasing entrepreneurs through green industrial parks: evidence from special economic zones in China," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 72(2), pages 287-312, February.
    11. Owens, Katherine, 2024. "Governing experimentation to decarbonise the electricity sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    12. Møller, Karl Magnus, 2024. "Domestic renewable energy industries and national decarbonization policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    13. Marcello Cosa & Riccardo Torelli, 2024. "Digital Transformation and Flexible Performance Management: A Systematic Literature Review of the Evolution of Performance Measurement Systems," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 25(3), pages 445-466, September.
    14. Emmanuel Monod & Nataliia Korotkova & Sabine Khalil & Antonia Meythaler & Elisabeth Joyce, 2024. "Unveiling blind spots in consulting firms’ disseminating discourse on digital transformation," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 759-803, December.
    15. Toscano Hernandez, Celina & Appio, Francesco Paolo & Platania, Federico, 2025. "High stakes in a low-carbon world: Financial risks and returns in renewable energy," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    16. Marina Dabić & Jane Maley & Leo-Paul Dana & Ivan Novak & Massimiliano M. Pellegrini & Andrea Caputo, 2020. "Pathways of SME internationalization: a bibliometric and systematic review," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 705-725, October.
    17. 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.
    18. Mac Clay, Pablo & Börner, Jan & Sellare, Jorge, 2023. "Institutional and macroeconomic stability mediate the effect of auctions on renewable energy capacity," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    19. Jiatong Yu & Jiajue Wang & Taesoo Moon, 2022. "Influence of Digital Transformation Capability on Operational Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-20, June.
    20. Lirios Alos-Simo & Antonio J. Verdu-Jover & Jose M. Gomez-Gras, 2020. "Knowledge Transfer in Sustainable Contexts: A Comparative Analysis of Periods of Financial Recession and Expansion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-24, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8465-:d:1754355. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.