Unleashing the power of IoT: Transdisciplinary pathways for digital transformation

Digital transformation has become a critical strategic choice for traditional manufacturing enterprises to maintain competitiveness, yet transformation outcomes vary significantly across firms. This study explores how organizational inertia and resource allocation patterns jointly shape digital transformation pathways. Through a longitudinal comparative case study of Suzhou Company A and Hangzhou Company B across two phases (2015-2018, 2019-2023), we develop a theoretical framework encompassing four transformation pathways: breakthrough, incremental, pilot, and dilemma. Our findings reveal that: (1) the interaction between organizational inertia and resource allocation patterns determines initial transformation pathways; (2) enterprises can achieve pathway transitions through adjusting resource allocation patterns, but transition speed is significantly constrained by organizational inertia levels; (3) external pressures trigger resource allocation adjustments by creating "windows of change," thereby driving pathway evolution. This study makes theoretical contributions by: constructing an integrative analytical framework combining organizational characteristics and resource allocation, revealing the dynamic evolution mechanisms of transformation pathways, and providing new theoretical perspectives for understanding the complexity of digital transformation in traditional enterprises. Practically, this research offers decision-making guidance for enterprises in selecting appropriate transformation pathways and timing pathway transitions.

With the rapid advancement of digital technologies, information security enterprises face unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Against this backdrop, this study focuses on information security enterprises, examining how digital innovation and digital transformation influence technological innovation through digital disruption. It aims to reveal the impact mechanisms of digital innovation, digital transformation, and digital disruption on technological innovation within information security enterprises by investigating the interactions and influence pathways among these variables. Drawing upon dynamic capability theory, the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, digital disruption theory, and the digital transformation maturity model, a theoretical model was constructed to capture the relationships among digital innovation, digital transformation, digital disruption, and technological innovation. This study collected 446 valid samples from Chinese information security enterprises through questionnaire surveys. Empirical analyses included reliability and validity assessments, correlation tests, difference tests, and structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings reveal that both digital innovation and digital transformation significantly and directly promote technological innovation within information security enterprises. Furthermore, digital disruption plays a crucial mediating role between these two factors and technological innovation. This research not only enriches theoretical studies on digital innovation and transformation pathways in the information security field but also provides practical guidance for enterprises to achieve technological innovation during digital transformation. Additionally, it offers a reference basis for government and industry regulators in formulating relevant policies, demonstrating significant theoretical value and practical significance.

Against the backdrop of rapid digital technology development, digital transformation has increasingly become a key pathway for enterprises to enhance their international operational capabilities. Based on data from Shandong Province's manufacturing A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2023, this study employs empirical methods such as the two-way fixed effects model, Probit model, and two-stage least squares method to explore the impact pathways of digital transformation on enterprises' foreign direct investment. The results indicate that digital transformation significantly promotes the scale of enterprises' foreign direct investment, and this conclusion remains valid after robustness and endogeneity tests. Mechanism analysis shows that digital transformation indirectly promotes enterprises' foreign investment behavior by improving supply chain operational efficiency. Heterogeneity tests further reveal that this promotional effect is more pronounced in state-owned enterprises and large enterprises, while it is not significant in non-state-owned enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises. The study reveals the intrinsic logic between digital capability development and corporate internationalization, providing valuable insights for policymakers and business managers on how to effectively expand overseas markets through digital transformation.

To better promote the high-quality development of teacher education in China in the era of digital transformation, this study focuses on the digital transformation of teacher education in China. Through literature research and deductive analysis, the study is based on the context of the times and the current situation of teacher education in China, analyzing the direction, key factors, and pathways of digital transformation in Chinese teacher education. The research results are as follows: the specific direction of digital transformation in Chinese teacher education includes achieving autonomous infrastructure construction, human-machine collaborative production methods, the multifaceted interaction of value in operational models, and the manifestation of technological and humanistic aspects in organizational culture. The key to this transformation lies in establishing a teacher education ecosystem that encompasses technology adaptation, collaborative efforts of stakeholders, and security of services. Based on the above analysis, promoting the digital transformation of teacher education in China can be achieved through: Innovating theory to create a new discourse system for teacher education; Innovating methods to establish a new paradigm for high-quality teacher education development; Innovating practices to construct a human-centric model of teacher education. These approaches will help drive the digital transformation of teacher education in China forward.

With the rapid advancement of intelligent manufacturing and digital transformation, assessing the digital transformation and maturity of manufacturing enterprises enables firms to evaluate their digital achievements and establish appropriate transformation pathways. Existing maturity assessment models for manufacturing enterprises predominantly emphasize strategic-level evaluation and rely heavily on survey-based data, while paying limited attention to the business-function level. However, in practice, enterprises often initiate digital transformation by addressing specific business challenges and then gradually advance through concrete application scenarios. To address this gap, this paper proposes a scenario-based approach for measuring the digital transformation and maturity of manufacturing enterprises. With this approach, a differentiated weighting system is constructed based on “core keywords–extended keywords–negative keywords”, and a semantic similarity model is used to identify and quantify digital application scenarios in corporate annual reports. Building on this, a three-dimensional evaluation framework, comprising scenario coverage, scenario depth, and scenario consistency, is developed to comprehensively assess the extent of digital transformation from the perspective of application scenarios. With the proposed method, different business units can be evaluated independently, thereby capturing transformation progress across heterogeneous levels. Since it relies on publicly available corporate annual reports, the evaluation process is transparent and traceable and generates quantitative results. By shifting from survey-based, strategy-oriented assessments to function-oriented, data-driven, and modular evaluations, the method not only enhances accuracy and interpretability but also provides practical guidance for resource allocation, cross-functional complexity management, and the progressive expansion of digital transformation.

Exploring the relationship between digital transformation and green innovation: The mediating role of financing modes

Digital transformation's impact on innovation in private enterprises: Evidence from China

The digital transformation of new agricultural operating entities (NAOEs) plays a pivotal role in advancing rural revitalization and strengthening agricultural development. Despite the significant efforts made by the Chinese government, the digitalization rate of agriculture is still relatively low. Based on a multi-case study encompassing 40 NAOEs and employing the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework alongside fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), this study explores the necessary conditions and pathways for the digital transformation of NAOEs. Additionally, we investigate the configuration factors that drive digital transformation at different levels. The study concludes that the digital transformation of NAOEs results from the interplay of multiple interacting factors rather than a single determinant. Notably, government support and manager’s digital capability emerge as two necessary conditions of successful digital transformation. High-level digital transformation can be categorized into three pathways: technology-driven, technology-organization-driven, and environment-driven. In contrast, low technological factors, low technology-organization factors, and high environmental factors lead to a low degree of digital transformation. Based on these findings and the current state of agricultural digitalization in China, this study offers policy recommendations across three key areas: enhancing technical support, refining the policy framework, and developing digital capabilities. This study unveils the complex and multifaceted relationships underlying digital transformation in NAOEs, providing both a theoretical foundation and practical insights for advancing agricultural modernization and refining the supporting policy framework.

With the development of the digital economy, digital transformation has become one of the important means of developing new quality productive forces and also one of the important ways for enterprises to pursue the enhancement of their value. This paper takes the listed companies on China's A-shares market from 2010 to 2020 as the research sample to empirically test the impact of digital transformation on corporate value and its mechanism. The paper first conducts an empirical study on the relationship between digital transformation and corporate value, and then discusses the impact mechanism through heterogeneity, robustness methods, and further discussions. The results show that digital transformation can significantly promote the improvement of corporate value levels. The scale of enterprises and their marketing channels play a partial mediating role in the impact of digitalization on corporate value. Heterogeneity analysis found that the positive impact of digital transformation on the value creation of young enterprises, enterprises in the eastern region, and non-state-owned enterprises is more significant. This study reveals the mechanism by which digital transformation affects corporate value and also provides policy implications for the government to formulate relevant policies to empower enterprises with digital transformation.

Green technology innovation is an important approach to addressing environmental pollution and achieving high-quality development. In the context of the booming digital economy, whether and how corporate digital transformation can promote green technology innovation is a significant theoretical issue that urgently needs to be addressed. We use data from China’s A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2020 to explore the impact of digital transformation on corporate green technology innovation, based on the construction of measurement indicators for digital transformation through textual analysis methods. It is found that digital transformation can significantly promote corporate green technology innovation, and this conclusion is still valid after a series of robustness and endogeneity tests. Mechanism testing shows that reducing financing cost and enhancing collaborative research are the two effective pathways for digital transformation to promote green technology innovation. Further analysis also reveals that for state-owned enterprises, non-foreign-invested enterprises, high environmental responsibility enterprises, and non-heavy-polluting enterprises, digital transformation plays a more significant role in promoting green technology innovation. Our research findings are conducive to promoting the integrated development of digital transformation and green economy, and provide theoretical reference for the formulation and implementation of digital transformation policies.

Objective: This study examined the economic trajectory of smart digital transformation in the context of the Fifth Industrial Revolution, focusing on its economic and social implications and emerging business models. It also sought to assess successful international experiences and extract key lessons. Methodology: A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted, involving a review of literature on industrial revolutions and digital transformation, analysis of economic and digital indicators from international reports, and examination of applied models in pioneering countries. Results: The findings revealed that the Fifth Industrial Revolution promotes integration between humans and machines, emphasizing sustainability and the bioeconomy. Digital transformation was found to have a positive impact on productivity and economic growth, though challenges remain, including labor market restructuring and widening inequality. The study also identified the rise of new digital business models, such as the sharing economy and subscription economy, and showcased how some countries achieved successful digital transformation through comprehensive strategies. Conclusion: The study concluded with several recommendations: strengthening digital infrastructure, reforming education systems, and updating legislative frameworks. It further stressed the importance of private sector adaptation to these transformations through innovative business models.

Resilience in the urban context can be described as a continuum of absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities. The need to move toward a sustainable future and bounce forward after any disruption has led recent urban resilience initiatives to engage with the concept of transformative resilience when and where conventional and top-down resilience initiatives are less likely to deliver effective strategies, plans, and implementable actions. Transformative resilience pathways emphasize the importance of reflexive governance, inclusive co-creation of knowledge, innovative and collaborative learning, and self-organizing processes. To support these transformative pathways, considering techno-social co-evolution and digital transformation, using new data sources such as Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) and crowdsourcing are being promoted. However, a literature review on VGI and transformative resilience reveals that a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and capacities of utilizing VGI for transformative resilience is lacking. Therefore, based on a qualitative content analysis of available resources, this paper explores the key aspects of using VGI for transformative resilience and proposes a comprehensive framework structured around the identified legal, institutional, social, economic, and technical aspects to formalize the process of adopting VGI in transformative resilience initiatives.

ABSTRACTDigital transformation has revolutionized public service delivery, yet studies on societal engagement with e‐Government services in Qatar remain limited. Despite significant investments in digital governance, 70% of services continue to be accessed through traditional methods, indicating barriers to adoption. This study examines the factors influencing societal self‐motivation to use e‐Government platforms, with a focus on cultural and institutional challenges. This research employs a qualitative methodology, including semi‐structured interviews with representatives from government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector. The study also integrates secondary data sources to provide a broader contextual analysis. Findings reveal that while Qatar has advanced digital infrastructure and governance principles emphasizing transparency and efficiency, low digital self‐motivation, privacy concerns, and a preference for traditional service methods hinder e‐Governance adoption. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) explain how perceived ease of use, trust, and social influence shape engagement. The study recommends targeted awareness campaigns, NGO collaboration, and digital literacy initiatives to enhance societal engagement with e‐Government services. Strengthening privacy protections and promoting a digital government culture through community‐based outreach can foster wider adoption. Addressing these challenges is critical for realizing the full potential of Qatar's digital transformation and ensuring inclusive, transparent governance.

In the 2022 Government Work Report, the emphasis on "strengthening the core competitiveness of manufacturing" underscores the significance of robustly developing digital transformation in the manufacturing sector, which stands as a cornerstone of our national economy. The unexpected COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 adversely affected our country's manufacturing industry. However, some digitally mature enterprises displayed resilience and vitality, thereby stimulating traditional manufacturing companies to embark on digital transformation. This paper selects Lenovo Group as the subject of study for two reasons: firstly, Lenovo Group represents a traditional manufacturing enterprise, and secondly, Lenovo Group stands out as an exemplary enterprise in the field of digital transformation in 2023. This paper investigates the internal motivations of Lenovo Group for digital transformation, including suboptimal results in mergers and acquisitions integration and a lack of core technologies in the "trade, work, and technology" research. It also examines external motivations, such as robust support from national policies and intensified industry competition. The paper analyzes the pathway to Lenovo Group's digital transformation, encompassing data intelligence, intelligentization of the upstream and downstream supply chain, and the expansion of digital transformation consultancy services, with the aim of providing insights for other manufacturing companies undergoing digital transformation.

With the rapid development of global digital technologies, the cultural media industry has undergone unprecedented transformations. Particularly in China, the deep integration of information technology and digital transformation has driven the rapid upgrading and diversification of the cultural industry. This study explores the current status, development opportunities, and challenges of China’s cultural media industry in the digital era, proposing strategic pathways and future development directions. First, it analyzes the technological evolution and industrial transformation in the digital era and the status and development trends of China’s cultural media industry. Then, it examines the main challenges and bottlenecks faced during the digital transformation process, particularly in terms of technological innovation, changing market demands, and shifts in consumer behavior. Finally, the paper suggests strategies and pathways for the digital transformation of China's cultural media industry, emphasizing the importance of content innovation, platform development, and industrial ecosystem integration. The research findings reveal that digital transformation presents significant opportunities for the industry while also introducing unprecedented challenges. Stakeholders must actively respond with continuous innovation and improvement to secure a competitive edge globally.