Digital Transformation in SMEs and Boundary Spanners: A Socio-Technical Analysis of Transversality[Transformation digitale des PME et acteurs de frontière : une analyse socio-technique de la transversalité]

Digital transformation (DT) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is widely described as a socio-technical process involving technologies, organizational structures, and multiple actors. However, the concrete mechanisms through which boundary actors contribute to strategic alignment and the cross-functionality of DT remain poorly documented. This article adopts an exploratory and inductive qualitative approach based on two in-depth case studies of French industrial SMEs. The analysis highlights that DT primarily unfolds through situated functional trajectories, oriented by concrete business needs and supported by technology. While executives, CIOs, and managers do perform boundary-spanning roles, their practices remain largely siloed. The findings show that the absence of formalized crossfunctionality does not necessarily hinder performance, thereby calling into question the normative nature of transversal strategic alignment in DT within SMEs.