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Keeping pace with the digital transformation — exploring the digital orientation of SMEs

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  • Kevin Escoz Barragan

    (University of Siegen)

  • Felix Simon Rudolf Becker

    (University of Siegen)

Abstract

In the digital era, organizations strategically adopt digital transformation to thrive and prosper. In particular, they allocate substantial resources to cultivate digital orientation. However, limited research has explored how digital orientation impacts the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Our study sheds light on this relationship, examining it through the lens of a resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capability (DC) perspective. We empirically quantify digital orientation and its subdimensions using textual data extracted from SME websites. Our findings unveil a U-shaped relationship: while high performance is observable at both extremes of the spectrum, an initial increase in digital orientation is associated with performance setbacks until a specific threshold of digital orientation is reached, after which performance once again begins to improve. As a result, SMEs should consider a strategic allocation of resources while pursuing digital orientation to build capabilities during their digital transformation journey.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Escoz Barragan & Felix Simon Rudolf Becker, 2025. "Keeping pace with the digital transformation — exploring the digital orientation of SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 64(3), pages 1361-1385, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:64:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11187-024-00947-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-024-00947-7
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital orientation; Performance; SMEs; Resource-based view; Dynamic capabilities;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M15 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - IT Management
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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