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Small business digital transformation in the context of the pandemic

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  • Munir Mandviwalla
  • Richard Flanagan

Abstract

The pandemic is a major crisis for small businesses. Digital transformation (DT) offers a lifeline for some small businesses. In this paper, we outline a rapidly conceived and implemented research project to digitalise small business. We apply action design research using the DT lens to intervene and impact 42 different small businesses over an intense six-month period. Three detailed case studies illustrate the problem, drivers, mechanisms, and challenges of DT. The results illustrate how small businesses can engage, sell, and deliver using technology, and the factors that influence the transformation process. We also discuss limitations and identify research opportunities in relation to the DT, platform, and small business literature. The paper demonstrates how IS can have an immediate impact on the livelihoods of the businesses in our community during the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Munir Mandviwalla & Richard Flanagan, 2021. "Small business digital transformation in the context of the pandemic," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(4), pages 359-375, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:tjisxx:v:30:y:2021:i:4:p:359-375
    DOI: 10.1080/0960085X.2021.1891004
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tiwari, Sunil & Sharma, Pankaj & Jha, Ashish Kumar, 2024. "Digitalization & Covid-19: An institutional-contingency theoretic analysis of supply chain digitalization," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    2. Carmen Gerea & Valeria Herskovic & María Fernanda Rodríguez & Gabriela Cajamarca & Rodrigo Gajardo, 2023. "New Paths in Small Manufacturing: How is Digital Transformation Shaping Collaboration Between Designers and Craftspeople?," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, September.
    3. Li, Meng & Wang, Zhengqi & Shu, Linhan & Gao, Haoyu, 2025. "Broadband infrastructure and enterprise digital transformation: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PB).
    4. Ali Sunyaev & Tobias Dehling & Susanne Strahringer & Li Xu & Martin Heinig & Michael Perscheid & Rainer Alt & Matti Rossi, 2023. "The Future of Enterprise Information Systems," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 65(6), pages 731-751, December.
    5. Yuchong Hu & Yifan Pan & Miao Yu & Peishen Chen, 2024. "Navigating Digital Transformation and Knowledge Structures: Insights for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(4), pages 16311-16344, December.
    6. W. Currie & V. Veerakkody & B. van Vliet, 2024. "Digital transformation: The geopolitical-organizational nexus," Post-Print hal-04770553, HAL.
    7. Sachin Kumar Sharma & P. Vigneswara Ilavarasan & Stan Karanasios, 2024. "Small businesses and FinTech: a systematic review and future directions," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 535-575, March.

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