Digital Driver Research Articles

Conceptualizing Digital Readiness, Strategic Foresight, and Strategic Flexibility as Drivers of Digitalization and Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises

The drivers of digitalization and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) performance have been primarily examined through resource-based theories. Hence, this study presents an alternative perspective based on such organizations' readiness and dynamic capabilities through a conceptual framework. A conceptual framework is developed by drawing upon the digital readiness theory (DRT) along with the dynamic capabilities view (DCV) to propose an integrated framework that posits a set of propositions linking constructs that reflect both digital readiness as well as the dynamic capabilities of an organization as possible drivers of business process digitalization (BPD) and performance. The empirical literature based on the DRT suggests that digital readiness will likely drive BPD and performance. Whereas leveraging the premise of the DCV indicates that the ability to sense opportunities and threats is reflected by strategic foresight. In contrast, the ability to seize and transform is reflected through strategic flexibility. The propositions posit that all three factors influence performance directly and through the mediating effect of BPD. The framework developed in this study may provide clues to practitioners and policymakers related to SME development regarding potential drivers of digitalization and performance. Growing scholarly publications on antecedents of digitalization and the performance of SMEs have focused primarily on resources. The current study offers an alternate perspective by integrating the two theories based on such organizations' readiness and dynamic capabilities.

Application of Digital Galvanometer Scanner System for CO2 Fractional Laser Safety Improvement

An analog PID controller-based galvanometer scanner is widely used by fractional laser medical equipment (FLME) to scan lasers across tissue surfaces, achieving the desired therapeutic effect. This type of driver, primarily composed of passive components and operational amplifiers, can only accept commands from the central controller of the FLME, with a simple hardware circuit-based fault diagnosis; thus, the safety of the FLME is compromised. To address these issues, the failure mechanisms of galvanometers and their impact on the safety of FLME are thoroughly analyzed first. Then, an adaptive limit protection method, a coil open circuit fault diagnosis, a communication timeout protection based on two handshakes, and a galvanometer control timeout protection are proposed, respectively, based on a digital driver platform, to supplement the deficiencies in the original fault diagnosis and protection system. This ensures the safety of the FLME. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed strategies is validated through experiments.

Determinants of digitalization: Evidence from Asia and the Pacific countries

PurposeDigitalization is one of the major factors that fosters economic growth across the world. However, the level of digitalization varies significantly between developed and developing countries, with the latter often lagging behind. To bridge this gap, it is crucial to pinpoint the drivers of digitalization, specifically from the macroeconomic and country-level governance dimensions. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the determinants of digitalization, particularly for countries in Asia and the Pacific region.Design/methodology/approachOur study utilizes unbalanced panel data from 46 Asian and Pacific countries for the period of 2001–2021. Initially, we analyzed the data using conventional econometric methods, such as pooled ordinary least squares (POLS), random-effects model (REM) and fixed-effects model (FEM). Moreover, we employed endogeneity-corrected techniques and alternative proxies to enhance the robustness and reliability of our findings.FindingsOur findings reveal that economic development progress, government expenditure relative to country size and political stability are key drivers of digitalization. In contrast, corruption at the country level emerges as a significant impediment. Notably, our results remain robust to endogeneity-corrected techniques and alternative proxies of digitalization. Overall, these insights can inform policymakers, helping them to understand the macroeconomic and governance factors shaping digitalization and guide their decision-making toward effective policy interventions.Originality/valueThis study’s empirical findings add significant value to the existing literature by quantifying the impact of macroeconomic and governance factors on digitalization in selected countries. This offers valuable insights for policymakers, particularly in nations with lower levels of digitalization.

Exploring the impact of agricultural digitalization on smallholder farmers' livelihoods in Ghana

With the government's pursuit of a digitalization agenda, Ghana is at the forefront of championing digital transformation in Africa. However, people in rural areas are being left behind in harnessing the immense benefits of digitalization for their livelihoods. This study contributes to policy efforts aimed at bridging that gap by investigating the drivers of agricultural digitalization (AD) as well as its effects on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in rural Ghana. Data from a cross-sectional survey of 525 rural farmers across northern, middle and southern Ghana was employed. The study used the probit and tobit estimators to analyze the drivers and intensity of adoption of digital technologies in agriculture and the inverse probability weighting and regression adjustment estimator to mitigate endogeneity concerns. The results show that while female farmers trail male farmers in the intensity of applying digital technologies, higher educational attainment, better perception of digitalization, group/cooperative membership, number of economically active household members, and access to reliable electricity, internet and mobile money services significantly promote the use of digital technologies in agricultural activities. The results further show that AD is significantly associated with perceived improvements in livelihood assets, and ultimately livelihood outcomes of smallholder farmers in rural Ghana. These findings highlight the importance of investing in rural digital infrastructure by policymakers, the private sector and other stakeholders, so as to expand access to and the uptake of digital technologies in agriculture to bolster rural development in Ghana.

Biased innovation and network evolution: digital driver for green innovation of manufacturing in China

ABSTRACT The study aims to explore the spatial association network characteristics of biased green innovation in the manufacturing sector and its core drivers. This study constructs a Malmquist-Luenberger decomposition index model to identify the input and output biases of green technological innovation (GIIM and GIOM) in the manufacturing industry. This study uses a modified gravity model and social network analysis method to conduct a robust assessment of GIIM spatial association network of 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2021. The results show: (1) The GIIM association network structure is stable and has good accessibility, with close connections between provinces and blocks, and significant spillover effects between provinces. (2) The regional network shows a “core-periphery” spatial variation, with the core area expanding and the peripheral area shrinking. (3) The digital transformation characteristics of the network components and the intensity of environmental regulation have a significant impact on GIIM.

"The Simpler, the Better." A Qualitative Study on Digital Health Transformation in Early Adopter Rheumatology Outpatient Clinics.

Workforce shortage and the increasing burden of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases lead to extreme time constraints in rheumatology outpatient care. Digital services promise to facilitate care by relieving employees and unleash new capacities. This study aims to explore the perspectives of early adopter health care professionals (HCP) on digital transformation in outpatient rheumatology. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with rheumatology nurses and physicians in 3 German rheumatology outpatient clinics, each characterized by an advanced level of digital adaption. Qualitative data were subsequently analyzed using deductive-inductive qualitative content analysis. Interviews with 11 rheumatology nurses and 5 rheumatologists were completed. Three key themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: (i) Digital transformation of care; (ii) impact of digital transformation on health care delivery; and (iii) perceived drivers of successful digitalization. The interviews revealed that digital technologies are widely used throughout the complete patient pathway. Digitalization enables more continuity and flexibility in rheumatology care. Patient information can be electronically obtained in a standardized manner prior to planned visits, enabling an informed consultation and more time for in-depth patient discussion. Although digitalization restructures work, it can also increase the current workload. Improved accessibility for patient calls leads to more work for HCP. Important drivers of successful digital technology implementation are low-threshold and interoperable services, a medical team that is interested and educated in eHealth, and comprehensive patient information and onboarding. Digital transformation is increasingly redefining rheumatology care. While accelerating communication and workflows, improved service accessibility leads to more work for HCP.

Vocational Education and Industry Integration and Symbiosis of Subjects and Digital Drivers

Abstract Under the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial change, the integration of vocational education and industry is an important direction of educational development. In this paper, the structure of the learning path network of higher vocational professional courses is analyzed, and through the analysis of the elements of learning behaviors, the learning behaviors are mined by adopting sequence relations, and the behavioral structure model is established. The assessment of the learning path under the integration of industry and education courses was finished using uncertainty association coefficients and time association coefficients. After building the learning path network for vocational education, the subjective characteristics of students under vocational education were detected using isolated point analysis. The detection results show that the correlation coefficient between the first pair of typical variables is 0.488. The Wilks statistical test results for typical correlation coefficients show that the p-value of the first typical correlation coefficient is 0.098, which is less than 10%. The correlation study of the environment of integration of education and industry and the effect of integration can be simplified to study only the relationship between the first pair of typical variables. By analyzing the main characteristics, the main body for vocational education and industry integration is clarified, which creates a digital-driven impetus for the integration of industry and education.

A Circulatory Loop: The Reciprocal Relationship of Organizations, Digitalization, and Gender

In the digitalization debate, gender biases in digital technologies play a significant role because of their potential for social exclusion and inequality. It is therefore remarkable that organizations as drivers of digitalization and as places for social integration have been widely overlooked so far. Simultaneously, gender biases and digitalization have structurally immanent connections to organizations. Therefore, a look at the reciprocal relationship between organizations, digitalization, and gender is needed. The article provides answers to the question of whether and how organizations (re)produce, reinforce, or diminish gender‐specific inequalities during their digital transformations. On the one hand, gender inequalities emerge when organizations use post‐bureaucratic concepts through digitalization. On the other hand, gender inequalities are reproduced when organizations either program or implement digital technologies and fail to establish control structures that prevent gender biases. This article shows that digitalization can act as a catalyst for inequality‐producing mechanisms, but also has the potential to mitigate inequalities. We argue that organizations must be considered when discussing the potential of exclusion through digitalization.

Best of the best: an investigation of policy enactment for key drivers of digitalization

PurposeThis paper aims to explore whether the key drivers identified in digitalization policies are being prioritized by practitioners in health and social care and to what degree the goals of the policies are being enacted.Design/methodology/approachThe investigation comprised two stages. First, the key drivers of digitalization in the national policies were identified. Second, a survey was disseminated to practitioners within health and social care, asking them to indicate their stance on each key driver (using Likert scales).FindingsThe findings of this paper are twofold. First, they demonstrate that practitioners more readily enact the key drivers centered around their everyday operations, such as improving services and care and increasing efficiency. Second, it shows that key drivers of a more rhetorical nature, such as “becoming the best,” do not yield benefits for practitioners.Practical implicationsThis paper shows that for policies to have an effect in practice and to contribute to change, they should be rooted in key drivers centered around practitioners’ everyday operations, promoting specificity over abstraction.Originality/valueWhile previous studies have involved policy analysis, few studies investigate the enactment of policies, how they are implemented and whether they contribute to changes in practice.

DRIVERS OF NEW VENTURE DIGITALIZATION AMONG MALAYSIAN SMES: A CONCEPTUAL MODEL

This study is an extension of previous studies focusing on new venture digitalization. It examines the influence of the drivers of new venture digitalization on small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Using a systematic literature review, the study developed a conceptual model to examine the drivers of new venture digitalization among Malaysian SMEs. The findings reveal the extent to which organizational factors such as size, ownership and international experience of firms can influence Malaysian SMEs’ new venture digitalization. It also indicates that individual and environment factors such as age, gender, and education; government intervention, competitors and customers pressure, Covid-19 health crisis, blockchain technology and fast broadband access have the potential to drive Malaysian SMEs’ new venture digitalization. The study contributes to models on new venture digitalization and provides a better understanding of general and country specific factors that drives the utilization of digitalization in new ventures.

The impact of procurement digitalization on supply chain resilience: empirical evidence from Finland

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the role of procurement digitalization in reducing uncertainty in the supply chain (SC) and how it relates to mitigating SC risks and improving SC resilience (SCRES).Design/methodology/approachBased on survey data collected from the procurement functions of 147 Finnish firms, this study conceptualizes data analytics, information sharing and procurement process digitalization as drivers of procurement digitalization and investigates their impact on SC risk management and SCRES by using partial least squares path modeling.FindingsProcurement digitalization through data analytics and digital process maturity requires effective information sharing among SC partners and SC risk management to be able to improve SCRES. Procurement digitalization increases information-processing capacities and reduces uncertainty in the SC.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the understanding on the relationships between procurement digitalization and SCRES.

Are emerging technologies unlocking the potential of sustainable practices in the context of a net-zero economy? An analysis of driving forces.

Increasing globalization and climate change have significantly affected business activities. Government and other stakeholders are creating pressure to have a sustainable business model for efficient resource utilization and minimizing negative environmental impact. Many organizations have started focusing on sustainable and cleaner production through the adoption of net-zero economy (NZE) practices. Certain technological advancements are required to put these concepts into practice. Firms have begun to adopt digital technologies (such as big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and internet of things), and have been widely used in practice to achieve NZE. Is digitalization unlocking the potential of sustainable practices in the context of a net-zero economy? This question is still unanswered; therefore, this study aims to identify and analyze the drivers of digitalization that ensure sustainable practices to achieve net-zero economy. Through an extensive literature review and experts' opinions, a list of drivers was identified. An empirical investigation was conducted to validate the identified drivers and further understand the influencing relationship among the drivers, Pythagorean fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (PF-DEMATEL) was employed. The findings of the study show that "high degree of automation," "enhancing the flexibility in the manufacturing process," and "real-time sensing capability" are the main influencer drivers among all cause group forces. The present study can be a source for industrial practitioners and academia that can provide significant guidance on how the adoption of digitalization can unlock the potential to achieve CE, which can lead us toward net-zero.

The Role of Competence Profiles in Industry 5.0-Related Vocational Education and Training: Exemplary Development of a Competence Profile for Industrial Logistics Engineering Education

Industry 5.0 and the associated transformation into Society 5.0 require a complete realignment of the skills required of the engineers of tomorrow. Thereby, the pre-dominant and policy-driven drivers of digitalization, and sustainability in particular, demand a complex variety of enhanced special competencies (e.g., lean thinking, data science skills) and transversal competencies from engineers working in manufacturing companies which must be systematically developed and continuously expanded. Since methodical approaches to systematic competence development in the environment of Industry 5.0-related engineering education are scarce, this article develops a competence profile for industrial logistics engineering education as an example of Industry 5.0-related vocational education and training initiatives. After elaborating on the relevant theoretical aspects of systematic competence development in adult education, an exemplary competence profile for industrial logistics engineering education is developed. Moreover, this paper presents a preliminary investigation of the impact of competencies on job performance and job satisfaction. The research results serve as a basis for the development of new teaching and learning concepts as well as for the investigation of causal relationships between competence-orientation and individual performance for industrial engineers in manufacturing enterprises.

Primary Perspectives in Meme Utilization as a Digital Driver for Medical Community Engagement and Education Mobilization: Pre-Post Study

Memes have gone "viral," gaining increasing prominence as an effective communications strategy based on their unique ability to engage, educate, and mobilize target audiences in a call to action through a cost-efficient and culturally relevant approach. Within the medical community in particular, visual media has evolved as a means to influence clinical knowledge transfer. To this end, the GetWaivered (GW) project has leveraged memes as part of a behavioral economics toolkit to address one of the most critical public health emergencies of our time-the 20-year opioid epidemic. As part of a multidimensional digital awareness campaign to increase Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-X waiver course registration, GW investigated the results of meme usage in terms of impressions, website traffic, and ultimately user acquisition, as determined by web-based training enrollment and attendance outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of implementing humor-based promotional content versus the traditional educational model, and how the translation of the increase in engagement would increase the participant count and website traffic for GW's remote DEA-X waiver training. The approach to this study was based on 2 time frames (pre- and postcampaign). During April-July 2021, we developed a campaign via advertisements on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the GW website to expand outreach. These memes targeted medical professionals with the ability to prescribe buprenorphine. The time frame of this campaign measured engagement metrics and compared values to preceding months (January-March 2021) for our GetWaivered website and social media pages, which translated to registrants for our remote DEA-X waiver training. By the end of July 2021, a total of 9598 individuals had visited the GW website. There was an average of 79.3 visitors per day, with the lowest number of daily visitors being 0 and the highest being 575. The use of memes may provide a medium for social media engagement (likes, comments, and shares) while influencing viewers to pursue a proposed action, such as e-training registration.

Industry 4.0 technologies as a driver of intelligent transport systems development

The paper dicusses cutting-edge technologies for Industry 4.0 as the drivers of digitalization of transport and logistics ecosystems. It also analyzes these technologies in their practical implications for improving the efficiency of the industry and their alignment with intellectual priorities of digital economy development at both national and international levels. The article provides an analytical review of the current state and digital transformation of the transport and logistics industry, including the introduction of new digital technologies Industry 4.0, taking into account the existing geopolitical agenda.

КЛЮЧЕВЫЕ ДРАЙВЕРЫ ЦИФРОВОЙ ЭКОНОМИКИ

The dynamic development of digital technologies has set a new trajectory for the economic development of the country – the formation of the digital economy, which is a restructuring of the format of the functioning of economic entities through the systematic introduction of digital infrastructure into the business model, forming a digital space of interaction of interested users of IT technologies. The article analyzes the positions of the Russian Federation in the world and domestic ratings of the digitalization of the economy. The key drivers of digitalization that underlie the creation of the information environment and digital transformation for the restructuring of business processes, corporate culture, management process, external communications are considered. The research method was the content analysis of scientific publications of researchers in the field of digital economy and general scientific methods of cognition: system analysis, logical generalization. The purpose of the study is to identify the system-forming elements of the digital economy, on which the formation of a coordinated mechanism of digital transformation depends, and also identified areas that contribute to improving the competitiveness of economic entities, industries and the country as a whole through the active introduction and full-scale development of business models and technologies.

Digital Transformation Characteristics of the Semiconductor Industry Ecosystem

This study investigates the characteristics of competitive strategies, digital competencies, and management performance as digital drivers in the semiconductor industry. We constructed a conceptual research model and proposed five research hypotheses based on previous studies and analyzed the fit of the research model using IBM SPSS AMOS software. In total, 131 companies specializing in semiconductor materials, components, equipment, and fabless design comprised the sample for analysis. To improve the fit of the research model, several unnecessary paths and measurement items were removed, the final research model was selected, and the five hypotheses were tested. The results indicate that digital drivers positively affect digital competencies, which, in turn, positively affect efficiency-centered and novelty-centered business models. Regarding the relationship between these business models and management performance, only the novelty-centered business model positively affects non-financial performance. These findings could help formulate digital transformation strategies related to products/services, processes, and business models at the firm level, as well as establish policies such as regulation and support programs at the government level.

Digitalization processes in small professional service firms: drivers, barriers and emerging organisational tensions

PurposeThis study aimed to provide an exploratory analysis of digitalization processes in small professional service firms (SPSFs) by examining their main drivers and barriers and their impact on customer management practices, considering the intra-organizational, inter-organizational and service offering dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a qualitative, exploratory and inductive research methodology based on in-depth interviews with 19 owners or consultants of small tax/accounting firms, focusing on the role of digitalization in their internal and external processes.FindingsThe findings reveal external and internal barriers to and drivers of digitalization, as well as its effects on customer management practices. They also reveal the emergence of tensions related to the intra-organizational, inter-organizational and service offering dimensions.Originality/valueThis work contributes to the research on the role of digital technologies in the professional service sector, with a focus on SPSFs, which has thus far received limited attention. This research highlights the complexity of combining increasingly standardized processes and services with the need to maintain flexibility and informality in internal and external interactions.

MODELING OF THE LOGISTICS SYSTEM OF THE ENTERPRISE IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

In a globalized world characterized by technological changes, interactions between economic and social actors are crucial to exploit market opportunities and maximize resource efficiency. The digital transformation of the economy creates the prerequisites for the emergence of technological tools with fundamentally new properties, which are driven by the industrial implementation of artificial intelligence technologies, cloud computing and other innovative products. Production and logistics systems that support the life cycle of promising technical systems are also becoming active components of a single network of intelligent machines operating on the basis of Internet technologies. The problems of logistics remain relevant, because the successful functioning of any organization and its competitiveness directly depend on the competent interaction of all subsystems of the enterprise, including the logistics one. Organizations that cannot adapt to today’s information exchange and business process management requirements will find it harder to add value to their products and services. Digital transformation is a leading trend that reflects the development vector of the economy and society as a whole. The implementation of digital technologies in the logistics processes of the enterprise should be considered as an integral part of the development of the logistics system and the enterprise in general in modern conditions. The implementation of modern digital technologies in logistics activities leads to changes in business models and strategic planning; improves interaction between all participants of the logistics process; increases the productivity of activities and, as a result, increases the competitiveness of logistics enterprises in the market. In the conditions of rapid digitization, there is a need to master current delivery channels and formats, analyze big data, automate processes, implement blockchain and robots. The logistics industry is becoming one of the drivers of digitalization.

Digitalization of the supply chain: transformation factors

PurposeThere is an increasing interest in the supply chain’s digitalization, yet the topic is still in the preliminary stages of academic research. The academic literature has no consensus and is still limited to research assessing the supply chain’s digitalization of organizations. This study aims to explore the supply chain digitalization drivers to understand the emerging phenomena. More specifically, the authors devised from the literature the most common factors in assessing the readiness in scaling supply chain digitalization.Design/methodology/approachThis study followed a five-phased systematic literature review (SLR) methodology in this research: designing, analyzing, conducting, writing and assessing the quality of the review. The SLR is beneficial for justifying future research regardless of the complex process that requires dealing with high-level databases, information filtering and relevancies of the content. Through analysis of 347 titles and abstracts and 40 full papers, the authors showed and discussed the supply chain digitalization: transformation factors.FindingsThe results generated three main themes: technology, people and processes. The study also generated ten subthemes/primary drivers for assessing the readiness for supply chain digitalization in organizations: IT infrastructure, cybersecurity systems, digitalization reskilling and upskilling, digitalization culture, top management support, digitalization and innovation strategy, integrated supply chain, digital innovation management, big data management and data analytics and government regulations. The importance of each factor was discussed, and future research agenda was presented.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the key drivers of the supply chain digitalization were identified, there is still a need to study the statistical correlation to confirm the interrelationships among factors. This study is also limited by the articles available in the databases and content extraction.Practical implicationsThis study supports decision-makers in understanding the critical drivers in digitalizing the supply chain. Once these factors are studied and comprehended, managers and decision-makers could better anticipate and allocate the proper resources to embark on the digitalization journey and make informed decisions.Originality/valueThe digitalization of the supply chain is more critical nowadays due to the global disruptions caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the surge of organizations moving toward the digital economy. There is a gap between the digital transformation pilot studies and implementation. The themes and factors unearthed in this study will serve as a foundation and guidelines for further theoretical research and practical implications.