Digital Transformation Research Articles

Digital technologies and social sustainability in the digital transformation age: a systematic analysis and research agenda

Purpose This paper aims to systematically review the constructive effects of digital transformation (DT) on social sustainability, examining its impact across democracy and governance, social cohesion, quality of life, equality and diversity. It emphasizes the need for appropriate frameworks that incorporate DT strategies in organizational practices to improve social sustainability. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was carried out through Web of Science and Scopus databases to identify the distinctive papers that explored the impact of DT on social sustainability. It analyzes how various digital technologies, like Internet of Things, cloud computing and mobile computing, can be strategically embedded in organizational practices to optimize social sustainability outcomes. Findings This study reveals that although DT significantly enhances operational capabilities and consumer experiences, its integration into social sustainability practices is often overlooked. It proposes a novel framework that aligns digital capabilities with sustainability goals, aiming to enrich organizational performance and societal welfare. This paper identifies dynamic capabilities as crucial for sustaining competitive advantage in a digitally transformed business landscape. Research limitations/implications The primary limitation is the reliance on secondary data, which may not fully capture the rapid advancements in DT. Future research should focus on empirical studies to validate the proposed framework and explore the dynamic capabilities required for integrating DT in social sustainability practices. Originality/value This study extends the discourse on DT by linking it explicitly with social sustainability, presenting a structured analysis that highlights the need for strategic integration of digital technologies within organizational sustainability practices. It fills a gap in the literature by proposing a comprehensive framework for organizations to follow, thereby contributing to the theoretical and practical understanding of DT’s role in enhancing social sustainability.

Enterprise internal control, digital transformation, and digitalization paradox: empirical evidence from China

ABSTRACT This study examines how internal control mechanisms within Chinese enterprises influence their journey towards digital transformation. Focusing on listed companies in China, data from 2012 to 2022 are analysed to ascertain the effects of internal control quality on embracing digital transformation. This study finds that firms with robust internal control frameworks are more inclined to undertake digital transformation initiatives. However, the paradox where digital transformation, despite its potential benefits, initially appears to detrimentally affect the financial performance of these enterprises is also highlighted. This negative financial implication is less pronounced in companies with strong internal controls, particularly non-state-owned and larger enterprises.

Impact of firm’s supply chain network position on digital transformation: evidence from China

Purpose Given the complexity and increasing interdependence of supply chain networks, a broader perspective beyond a simple binary relationship is needed to analyse the impact of supply chain networks on firms. Based on social network theory, this study aims to explore the relationship between firms’ network position in the supply chain network and digital transformation, as well as the moderating effects of structural holes and network partners’ digitalisation. Design/methodology/approach This study analyses a sample of Chinese A-share companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges for the period 2011–2020 using regression analysis to test hypothesised relationships. Findings A firm’s centrality in the supply chain network is positively related to its digital transformation, and that the firm’s structural holes and the level of network partners’ digitalisation can both strengthen the positive influence of network centrality on digital transformation. Moreover, the heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive effect of firms’ network centrality on digital transformation is more pronounced in non-SOEs and upstream firms. Practical implications In the pursuit of digital transformation, firms should recognise the significance of their position in the supply chain network and enhance their capability for information and resource acquisition by proactively strengthening their business cooperation with other network members. Moreover, firms should emphasise the value of open networks and their partners in supply chain networks. Originality/value This study applies social network theory to investigate the role of a firm’s external supply chain network in its digital transformation, clarifying the context and boundaries in which a firm’s position in the supply chain network influences digital transformation. The results extend the research and theoretical perspective on digital transformation and the consequences of supply chain networks.

Mapping the global regulatory terrain in digital banking: a longitudinal study across countries

Purpose This study aims to comprehensively understand the regulatory landscape and digital transformation (DT) within the banking sector, anchored in the theory of national innovation systems. Design/methodology/approach Using insights from a comprehensive literature review, an innovative framework is introduced to categorize regulators and digital banking attributes across 88 countries. The study uses k-means clustering to analyze the digital banking and regulatory status of 88 countries, tracing their evolution over two distinct timeframes. Findings The cross-country analysis spanning 2014 and 2022 reveals compelling trends in regulatory rankings and digital banking across diverse nations. These findings shed light on the dynamic interplay between regulatory environments and technological innovation. Originality/value This research contributes to knowledge by establishing a robust framework for understanding regulator dynamics in digital banking across a wide spectrum of countries. It offers valuable insights for academia, practitioners and policymakers by elucidating the complex relationship between the regulatory landscape and DT, shaping discourse and implications in this field, and informing strategic decision-making and policy formulation in the global financial landscape.

Digital Transformation and Discourses of Change Commodify Finnish Public Education

AbstractEcosystemic cooperation among the state, municipalities, and commercial actors is evident in the public education of Finland. The edu-ecosystems can include firm interdependences, value creation, co-specialisation, and co-evolution with an aim to sell products and services to the global market as well as to open up markets in a particular country. Here, we examine the discourses through which commercial actors promote the change or transformation of public education. With support from the state, commercial organisations—whether for-profit, non-profit or private or state-run—have a strong agenda to change ‘old-fashioned’ education into one that better serves the twenty-first century work life. The state and municipalities are gatekeeping the businessing around education, but commercial actors would prefer more opportunities to cooperate with public education institutions. It is noteworthy that commercial actors are gaining greater access to public education policymaking through ecosystems, and hence, have greater influence in redefining and commodifying education. Yet, there is a lack of public conversation about the commodification of public education in Finland.

The Law of Data-driven on Employee Growth in Enterprise Human Resource Management in the Era of Digital Transformation

In the era of digital transformation, the popularity of artificial intelligence technology has driven the development of the field of Human Resource Management (HRM) in enterprises, and data-driven HRM has become the key to the development and success of enterprises. Due to the late start, data-driven HRM is still in the development stage in China. To address the problem that traditional HRM lacks accuracy and real-time, this study proposes a Growth Potential Prediction (GPP) model based on the combination of all class features and a Random Forest (RF) classifier. The results of the study showed that the prediction accuracy of interpersonal background, work ability, educational status and organisational environment characteristics under the screening index based on [Formula: see text]1 value were 85.01%, 66.34%, 66.41%, 44.19% and 64.27%, respectively. The accuracy of ROS under the RF classifier and the macro [Formula: see text]1 value were 87.31% and 87.24%. After adding the network features, the accuracy and macro [Formula: see text]1 values of the feature ensemble could reach 90%, and the accuracy and macro [Formula: see text]1 values of all class feature combinations were 89.01% and 89.10%, respectively. In summary, the GPP model based on the combination of all class features and the RF classifier proposed in the study can accurately predict the growth potential of employees and provide some guarantee for mining the growth pattern of employees.

INTEGRATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTO SUCCESSION PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION

This study evaluates and examines the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in succession planning and leadership development in higher education institutions. The primary focus is on how AI can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency in identifying and developing potential leadership candidates while addressing existing challenges. The review employs a comprehensive literature search strategy, involving four major databases: Scopus, Web of Science, ABI/INFORM Collection, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria ensure that relevant, up-to-date, and high-quality literature is gathered for analysis. The review findings indicate that the use of AI in succession planning and leadership development in higher education promises significant advancements. AI can enhance the effectiveness of succession planning by providing deeper analysis of talent and skills while addressing the digital transformation challenges faced by higher education institutions. The implementation of AI in this context has the potential not only to improve leadership quality but also to strengthen strong leadership continuity for the future. This review offers insights into best practices, challenges, and future potentials for AI usage in succession planning and leadership development in higher education institutions, along with recommendations for more effective implementation.

Electronic Ticketing System for Monuments and Museums

Being one of the largest networks of ticketing systems operating over 1,015,000 km and transporting over 22 million visitors daily, e-ticketing systems spend over CR 94,000 to operate efficiently. From the recent proposal for smart cities, ticketing systems are projecting to museums and cultural monuments with the current trend towards digitization, smart ticketing systems are the most of the hour. Of the 94,000 kr. is an exorbitant salary of 23,500 kr. spent on paper that can be subsidized using effective alternative techniques. The smartphone, which has a profound effect on people's daily routine, can be used for paperless ticketing. In today's digital era, the way we access and experience cultural heritage sites, such as museums and monuments, is evolving. Traditional paper tickets and long queues are fast becoming outdated, replaced by more efficient and user-friendly digital solutions. This project explores the development of a Mobile based ticketing system that simplifies the ticket purchase process for visitors, provides easy entry verification through QR codes, and enhances security with biometric authentication. Beyond improving the visitor experience, this system helps site administrators manage visitor flow, protect against fraud, and even reduce environmental impact by going paperless. The application’s aim is to create a seamless and enjoyable journey for visitors—from purchasing tickets to entering the site—while providing insightful data for site managers on visitor patterns and peak hours. This digital transformation reflects the larger trend of integrating technology into our everyday experiences, making heritage sites more accessible, sustainable, and enjoyable for everyone. Key Words: e-ticketing system, digital ticketing ,QR code verification, biometric authentication, visitor management, cross-platform application, flutter framework, paperless ticketing, mobile ticketing solution, cultural heritage sites, museum access control, visitor analytics, crowd management ,secure ticketing system, smart tourism technology

Digital humanists in the modern international business world—Bulgarian context

Digital humanists play a crucial role in the modern international business world by combining the principles of regular employees with the advancements of digital technologies to address a variety of challenges and opportunities. They are specific labour forces that are driving digital transformation and innovation in the modern international business world. This article presents some key impacts the digital humanists have on global business practices and strategies particularly in the area of international business. Using the advantages, the digital era in which we live provides, digital humanists are becoming part of the international workforce but in a different and non-standard way. The main purpose of this article is to highlight some of the main characteristics of this modern workforce, the advantages and disadvantages of such an approach. It should be noted that the article is part of a scientific research dedicated to the changes in the international human resource management due to the technology developments and digitalization of the international business. The main research methods used are literature summary and analysis, comparative analysis, focus group interviews.

The impact of corporate digital transformation on stock market activity: evidence from the Chinese listed manufacturing companies

Purpose This research aims to investigate the impact of corporate digital transformation (CDT) on stock market activity. Design/methodology/approach A data set of Chinese listed manufacturing enterprises from 2012–2021 is used as a research sample. Findings This research finds that CDT can promote stock market activity. This study validates two potential mechanisms: increasing financial performance and mitigating information asymmetry. This study further suggests that internal control and analyst coverage can strengthen the impact of CDT on stock market activity. Research limitations/implications The research exhibits certain limitations that should be considered in future research. Because the findings are based on the Chinese context, the applicability and generalizability of the findings to other environments may be limited. This research enriches the literature on the determinants of stock market activity from a technological perspective and incrementally contributes to understanding the impact of CDT on stock markets. After analyzing two opposing perspectives on the economic consequences of CDT, the favorable effect of CDT on stock market activity is proven based on the resource-based view and agency theory. This research extends the literature on the relationship between CDT and investor behavior, demonstrating that investors perceive CDT as beneficial. The results provide evidence that CDT can increase financial performance and improve the information environment, leading to increased investor attention and enhanced trading activity. Practical implications This research has incremental practical implications for enterprises and regulatory authorities to comprehend the economic consequences of CDT in developing countries. First, enterprises should increase their digital investments to improve their performance and decrease information asymmetry. Furthermore, enterprise managers should strengthen information systems to adapt to the process of CDT and train employees on digital skills. Second, regulatory authorities should provide comprehensive digital policies and programs supported by tax incentives, subsidies and digital infrastructure projects (Wang et al., 2023). Originality/value This research strengthens the debate on the market impact of CDT. Unlike prior literature, this study explores the influence of CDT on stock market activity for the first time, enriching the literature on CDT and stock market activity. Furthermore, the outcomes guide regulatory authorities to actively support CDT and expedite the digital upgrading of manufacturing industries to promote stock market activity.

Worker well-being in the digital economy: Lens through bibliometrics analysis

Orientation: The study employed bibliometrics analysis to investigate key research themes and trends on digital economy and worker well-being.Research purpose: The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of worker well-being and digital economy to identify prominent and emerging research themes in this domain.Motivation for the study: Given the rapid digital transformation of workplaces, there is a need to assess literature trends on workers’ well-being and the digital economy.Research approach/design and method: The study employed a quantitative bibliometrics analysis to map literature on worker well-being and the digital economy. Data from Scopus were collected and screened through Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A total of 1473 documents were considered meeting the study’s criteria. The scientific literature production, country scientific production, conceptual structure (co-occurrence network, thematic map and thematic evolution) and keyword analysis were used to analyse the data.Main findings: The analysis revealed the following key themes, including task performance, emotional labour, employee voice, career adaptability, job satisfaction, employee well-being, work engagement, proactive personality and psychology of work.Practical/managerial implications: The findings underscore the need for organisations to implement employee well-being initiatives and support mechanisms to address the challenges posed by digital work environments.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a detailed map of the research landscape. The study shows the need to address well-being challenges because of poverty, vulnerability and changing psychology of work. The study also shows importance of adaptability, work engagement and support systems for employees.

How the synergy of government intervention and digital transformation affects carbon emission: evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China

ABSTRACT Digital transformation (DT), government intervention (GI) and carbon emissions (CE) have always been the focus of academic attention, and arguments on the relationship amongst them exist. This study seeks to introduce the degree of political connection and government subsidies (GS) as GI into the relationship between DT and CE at the micro-level and aims to provide a new perspective for resolving previous arguments. By using a difference-in-differences model, the impact of DT on reducing CE is measured by taking a sample of 3925 observations from listed enterprises in China and dividing them according to the following degrees of political connection: none, moderate and high. Results show that DT is effective in reducing CE. Additionally, DT of enterprises with moderate political connections has had the greatest effect on reducing CE, followed by the effect of enterprises with high political connections. The effect of enterprises with no political connections is insignificant. If enterprises with a moderate or no political connections gains more GS, then the negative impact of DT on CE will be stronger. This study provides new evidence that DT reduces CE at the micro-level and presents a new perspective on reaching a consensus by introducing GS and the degrees of political connection.

Unlocking sustainability: exploring the nexus of green banking, digital transformation, and financial performance with foreign ownership moderation

The purpose of this research is to empirically test and analyze the impact of green banking, digital transformation, and asset quality on the financial performance of commercial banks with foreign ownership as a moderator. Additionally, it aims to test and analyze the financial performance of sustainable business practices for commercial banks. This study was conducted on commercial banks, specifically focusing on bank groups categorized by core capital levels 3 and 4, listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, covering the period from 2017 to 2022. This research employed a judgment sampling technique, encompassing a total of 47 conventional commercial banks. Panel data regression analysis, a data analysis technique, used three variables: the dependent variable, the independent variable, and the moderation variable. The research unveiled that green banking does not appear to have a significant positive impact on financial performance, whereas digital transformation shows a clear positive effect. Non-performing loans, a measure of asset quality, also affect financial performance. Additionally, foreign ownership strengthens the impact of green banking on the financial performance of commercial banks in Indonesia. However, foreign ownership does not enhance the effect of digital transformation. Finally, foreign ownership plays a moderating role in the relationship between asset quality and financial performance in these banks. Ultimately, financial performance has a significant positive influence on sustainable business, suggesting that stronger financial performance contributes to the long-term sustainability of a bank’s operations. The implications of these findings are, first and foremost, that financial institutions should prioritize incorporating sustainable and environmentally friendly practices into their operations to improve their overall financial performance and emphasize the critical role of digital transformation in enhancing financial performance. Consequently, financial institutions are required to allocate resources towards information technology infrastructure and cultivate digital capabilities to adapt to evolving customer demands, such as offering 24/7 banking services from any location. Secondly, financial institutions should not stay far away from digital disruption, but rather embrace it and adapt their strategies accordingly, which includes allocating an adequate budget for IT infrastructure investment and accessing digital services that meet the banking industry’s demands, resulting in effective communication of sustainable practices.

TRANSFORMASI DIGITAL DAN PENGARUHNYA TERHADAP BUDAYA ORGANISASI: TINJAUAN LITERATUR SISTEMATIS

Digital transformation has become a global phenomenon reshaping how organizations in Indonesia operate and compete. This study aims to analyze the impact of digital transformation on organizational culture through a systematic literature review (SLR), focusing on aspects of collaboration, structural flexibility, resistance to change, and value adaptation. The results indicate that digital transformation enhances collaboration and flexibility within organizations, fostering better cross-departmental communication and responsiveness to market changes. However, resistance to change emerges as a significant challenge, particularly among employees concerned about their roles. Adapting organizational values towards a more open and innovative culture also requires continuous support from leadership. In conclusion, the success of digital transformation depends on a holistic and comprehensive change management approach. This study provides guidance for organizations to design cultural strategies that support the sustainability of digital transformation in Indonesia.

Development Digital Maturity Attributes Based on Higher Education Business Processes

Transformation in the digital aspect is a crucial part of the higher education development in digital age transformation. The oject of this study is to identify the transformation of digital maturity requirements in universities as higher education institutions from Indonesia, which will later be used as criteria for forming a digital maturity model. The research method is mixed, involving both qualitative and quantitative analyses. The type of research applied is the Exploratory Sequential Design, where the data is collected and analyzed with the qualitative method, then follows up the results with a quantitative one to explore a phenomenon. The content validity index applied in this study is used to validate digital maturity requirements. It has been applied to various digital technology companies, government policies in higher education systems, and management applied to multiple universities. The results can guide universities in navigating digital transformation in their institutions. This study highlights that previously proposed digital maturity models need to sufficiently consider the business processes of higher education and the need for security and privacy dimensions, which have not been extensively discussed in the literature.

AIOps and DevOps : Catalysts of Digital Transformation in the Age of Automated Operations

This article examines the pivotal roles of Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps) and Development Operations (DevOps) as key drivers of digital transformation in contemporary organizations. As businesses increasingly rely on complex, distributed IT systems, the integration of AIOps and DevOps emerges as a critical strategy for maintaining operational efficiency, scalability, and innovation. Through a comprehensive analysis of current literature and industry case studies, we explore how these technologies are reshaping the landscape of IT operations, accelerating software delivery cycles, and enabling more resilient and adaptive infrastructures. The article delves into the evolving nature of release engineering, where automation and machine learning are becoming central to ensuring agile and robust IT systems. Furthermore, we critically assess the ethical implications of automated decision-making in operations, including issues of transparency, bias, and job displacement. Our findings suggest that while AIOps and DevOps offer significant benefits in terms of operational optimization and cost reduction, their successful implementation requires careful consideration of organizational culture, skill development, and ethical guidelines. This article contributes to the growing body of knowledge on digital transformation strategies and provides insights for practitioners navigating the complex intersection of artificial intelligence, automation, and IT operations.

Machine Learning Meets Cybersecurity

In an era where digital transformation is accelerating, the integration of machine learning (ML) into cybersecurity is becoming increasingly crucial. This article delves into the significant role that ML plays in enhancing cybersecurity measures. ML's ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds allows for more efficient threat detection, anomaly identification, and predictive analytics. These capabilities are essential in pre-empting and mitigating cyber threats in real-time. However, the same technologies that bolster defences are also being leveraged by cybercriminals to develop more sophisticated attacks, posing unique challenges. This article explores the dual-edged nature of ML in cybersecurity, highlighting both its benefits and the potential risks. It discusses the challenges of bias in ML algorithms, the vulnerabilities exposed through adversarial attacks, and the ethical and privacy considerations that come with deploying ML solutions. Furthermore, it provides insights into the future trends and developments in ML-driven cybersecurity and underscores the importance of synergizing human expertise with machine intelligence to build more resilient cybersecurity frameworks. Through this exploration, the article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the transformative impact of ML on cybersecurity and the path forward in addressing the accompanying challenges.

Can the Inclusiveness of Foreign Capital Improve Corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Performance? Evidence from China

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has become an important factor influencing corporate operational strategies, yet the impact of its inclusiveness on corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance remains unclear. In this study, the correlation of city-level FDI inclusiveness with corporate-level ESG performance was investigated based on data from 1258 Chinese A-share listed companies between 2011 and 2021. The effects of FDI inclusiveness on corporate ESG performance and its underlying mechanisms were investigated. The findings indicate that an increase in FDI inclusiveness significantly improves corporate ESG performance. Additionally, the moderating role of corporate competitive advantage and urban entrepreneurial vitality was analyzed, and the findings indicate that an increase in urban FDI inclusiveness significantly improves corporate ESG performance. Managerial green attention and corporate innovation capability play intermediary roles in the overall impact, with the total impact being positively moderated by investor attention. Furthermore, the influence of FDI inclusiveness on corporate ESG performance exhibits significant heterogeneity resulting from variations in digital policies, environmental policies, and ownership structures.

EU digital law and the digital platform economy—an inquiry into the co-evolution of law and technology

AbstractEU digital policy is currently one of the most ambitious and far-reaching endeavors to regulate the digital economy. Online platforms in multisided markets with digital ecosystems lie at the heart of digital technologies and business models. Among others, they pose new challenges with regard to the abuse of a dominant market position, thus ultimately reducing competition and innovation. This paper outlines an evolutionary approach to the co-evolution of law and technology with collective cognitive constructs and wealth effects as essential drivers (Eckardt (2001, 2008). It is then applied to the evolution of EU law in this field. After an overview of the evolution from telecommunication monopolies to the current digital platform economy, a case study presents firstly the Google Search (Shopping) case (2010–2024). Based on traditional EU competition law, it resulted in gradual judge-made legal innovation. It also generated new knowledge about the shortcomings of the ex post approach of EU competition law when applying it to the digital platform economy. As a consequence, secondly, the introduction of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) (2020 onwards) as a radical statutory innovation is discussed. The DMA introduced a novel ex ante regulation for large online platforms to overcome the problems of traditional EU competition law. Finally, the paper reflects on the impact of wealth effects and the (co-evolving) cognitive constructs of the relevant players as drivers in this current example of the co-evolution of law and technology. The paper concludes with an outlook on further areas of empirical and conceptual research that can provide a better understanding of the co-evolution of law and technology and allow for better policies in regard to disruptive technological innovation.

The limits of learning engagement and academic leadership within the higher education digitalization process - analysis by using PLS SEM.

There is convincing evidence that the learning environments digitalization of tools and equipment ultimately results in the speed and depth learning involvement of academia members, by raising attainment of each of the digital learning experiences. The majority of the research that was conducted on the topic of enhancing the digital skills of learners, which would ultimately lead to an increase in their active engagement, was conducted on students in primary and secondary education, leaving members of higher education outside of the scope of the study. Given the uninterrupted search for academic performance and innovation, the current research considers the technological changes that lead to the transformation of the traditional academic learning environments as previously known. The current paper considers the changes in the learners' engagement in the context of the dually digital transformation of the higher academic multi-institutional digitally-learning enhancements. An important factor to be considered regards the leadership evolution (in terms of teaching) that over time, led to a different speed contextual shift, according to its effectiveness, leading to higher or lower students learning (dis)engagement. The current manuscript aims to examine how the higher education digitalization levels could affect the student's learning engagement, under the close monitoring of the academia leadership styles practice. Data collection and analysis implied at first a qualitative approach by issuing an online-distributed survey that resulted in a number of 2272 valid responses. After performing structural equation modelling and proving a valid assessment tool, the analysis resulted into statistically proving the validity of two main hypotheses according to which students learning engagement has a positive effect on the practice of academic leadership. Additionally, results emphasized the fact that higher education digitalization has altogether a negative effect of students learning engagement. Consequently, the current study stresses on the importance of different peers' categories in the context of higher education institutions performance, with an emphasis on the different levels of students' engagement and the leadership styles evolution and practice, aspects uniformly developing within a continuously digitally transformation of the higher education environment.