IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/rbs/ijbrss/v12y2023i10p01-12.html

Impact of Coronavirus on digital transformation in private sector organisations in developing countries

Author

Listed:
  • Tamanna Nankoomar

    (Information Systems & Technology, University of KwaZulu- Natal, Westville, Durban, South Africa)

  • Rosemary Quilling

    (Information Systems & Technology, University of KwaZulu- Natal, Westville, Durban, South Africa)

Abstract

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a new phase of company operations. The advent of digital transformation (DT) has fundamentally transformed the global business landscape. Despite the global prevalence of this phenomenon, there is limited understanding of digital transformation (DT) in the context of COVID-19 and its impact on private sector organizations in developing nations. This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on the process of digital transformation in privately owned companies located in underdeveloped nations. To accomplish this objective, a systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA (2020) principles, resulting in a selection of 26 studies. This study employs an inductive methodology, where pertinent topics are identified as they arise from the literature throughout the analysis stage. The technology-organization-environment framework (TOE) was subsequently employed to provide a contextual framework for these issues. The research findings suggest that the presence of resources, both financial and technological, is a crucial determinant in the adoption of digital transformation. The adoption of DT has been significantly influenced by various factors, including the role of governments, competitive forces, security, and other relevant considerations. Although organizations in underdeveloped nations encountered numerous hurdles, it was found that digital transformation progressed rapidly in all areas. Companies underwent substantial transformations to embrace digital transformation (DT), including the use of digital business models to facilitate remote operations and heightened investment in education, skills, and innovative digital tactics. Given the recent emergence of COVID-19, there remain numerous uncertainties regarding the enduring impacts that COVID-19 has had on organizations. Key Words:Digital transformation, DT, private sector, developing countries, COVID-19

Suggested Citation

  • Tamanna Nankoomar & Rosemary Quilling, 2023. "Impact of Coronavirus on digital transformation in private sector organisations in developing countries," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(10), pages 01-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:rbs:ijbrss:v:12:y:2023:i:10:p:01-12
    DOI: 10.20525/ijrbs.v12i10.3071
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.ssbfnet.com/ojs/index.php/ijrbs/article/view/3071/2143
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v12i10.3071
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.20525/ijrbs.v12i10.3071?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. Hossain, Mohammad Rokibul & Akhter, Fahmida & Sultana, Mir Misnad, 2022. "SMEs in Covid-19 Crisis and Combating Strategies: A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and A Case from Emerging Economy," Operations Research Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 9(C).
    2. Olanrewaju, Abdus-Samad Temitope & Hossain, Mohammad Alamgir & Whiteside, Naomi & Mercieca, Paul, 2020. "Social media and entrepreneurship research: A literature review," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 90-110.
    3. 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.
    4. repec:plo:pone00:0138237 is not listed on IDEAS
    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. Carmen Elena Stoenoiu, 2025. "Perspectives on the development of digital techniques and tools with implications for accounting and financial audit services," GATR Journals jfbr232, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.
    2. Weking, Jörg & Desouza, Kevin C. & Fielt, Erwin & Kowalkiewicz, Marek, 2023. "Metaverse-enabled entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 19(C).
    3. Drummond, Conor & O'Toole, Thomas & McGrath, Helen, 2022. "Social Media resourcing of an entrepreneurial firm network: Collaborative mobilisation processes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 171-187.
    4. Sikandar Ali Qalati & Dragana Ostic & Gu Shuibin & Fan Mingyue, 2022. "A mediated–moderated model for social media adoption and small and medium‐sized enterprise performance in emerging countries," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(3), pages 846-861, April.
    5. Justin R. Hall & Selen Savas-Hall & Eric H. Shaw, 2023. "A deductive approach to a systematic review of entrepreneurship literature," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 73(3), pages 987-1016, September.
    6. Qiu Peiyao & Zhang Runze, 2024. "The Impact of Blockchain Technology Applications on Enterprise Innovation in the Digital Economy Era: An Empirical Test Based on a PSM-DID Model," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, August.
    7. Martín-Rojas, Rodrigo & Garrido-Moreno, Aurora & García-Morales, Víctor J., 2023. "Social media use, corporate entrepreneurship and organizational resilience: A recipe for SMEs success in a post-Covid scenario," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    8. Debadutta Panda & Rohit Bhardwaj & Tulika Sharma & Sriharsha Reddy, 2024. "Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Navigating Through the Covid Pandemic in India: an Examination Through the Systems Approach," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 37(4), pages 483-498, August.
    9. Seyi Stephen & Clinton Aigbavboa, 2025. "Enhancing Academia–Industry Partnerships for Sustainable Building: A Change Framework for Research and Innovation Integration in Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-33, April.
    10. Zhang, Sihan & Chen, Zhibin, 2025. "Experts on the board: How do IT-savvy directors promote corporate digital innovation?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 791-817.
    11. Paraskevi Boufounou & Magdalini Mavroudi & Kanellos Toudas & Georgios Georgakopoulos, 2022. "Digital Transformation of the Greek Banking Sector in the COVID Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-13, September.
    12. Fatih Gurcan & Gizem Dilan Boztas & Gonca Gokce Menekse Dalveren & Mohammad Derawi, 2023. "Digital Transformation Strategies, Practices, and Trends: A Large-Scale Retrospective Study Based on Machine Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-23, May.
    13. Chun-Yi Lin & Chen Li & Sadaf Mahmood & Feng Guo & Zuoyi Qian, 2024. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Integrating Culture and Tourism: A Resilient Scale for Digital Transformation Innovation," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(4), pages 16122-16155, December.
    14. Kudakwashe Tazvivinga & Alexander Samuels, 2024. "Digital transformation and its role in FMCG supply chain resilience," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 6(5), pages 23-38, October.
    15. Shruti Singh & Anindita Chakraborty, 2024. "Role of Social Media in Investment Decision-making: A Comprehensive Review and Future Roadmap," Paradigm, , vol. 28(1), pages 45-64, June.
    16. Babaçoğlu, Sinan & Yalçın, Galip Cihan & Kara, Karahan & Turen, Ufuk & Simic, Vladimir & Polat, Mustafa & Pamucar, Dragan, 2025. "Promoting benchmarking and best practices in education: An interval-valued spherical fuzzy model for assessing sustainable digital transformation maturity," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    17. Nadeem, Kashif & Wong, Sut I. & Za, Stefano & Venditti, Michelina, 2024. "Digital transformation and industry 4.0 employees: Empirical evidence from top digital nations," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    18. Bargoni, Augusto & Santoro, Gabriele & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio & Ferraris, Alberto, 2024. "Growth hacking: A critical review to clarify its meaning and guide its practical application," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    19. Asanda Rose-Mary Nesindande & Musawenkosi Donia Saurombe & Renjini Mary Joseph, 2025. "Exploring a Digital Banking Talent Management Framework at a Banking Institution in South Africa," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(2), pages 21582440251, May.
    20. Esther Calderon-Monge & Domingo Ribeiro-Soriano, 2024. "The role of digitalization in business and management: a systematic literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 449-491, February.

    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:rbs:ijbrss:v:12:y:2023:i:10:p:01-12. 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: Umit Hacioglu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ssbffea.html .

    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.