Digital transformation and European small and medium enterprises (SMEs): A comparative study using digital economy and society index data

2023 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 1

Authors: Skare, Marinko; de las Mercedes de Obesso, María; Ribeiro-Navarrete, Samuel

Abstract: Digital transformation is profoundly transforming SMEs’ business activities, bri ... Expand

Abstract: Digital transformation is profoundly transforming SMEs’ business activities, bringing about comparative ad­ vantages and associated risks. Previous studies on digital transformation and SMEs focus on technology adoption, innovation, new value creation, and dynamic capabilities. However, it is unclear how digital technology affects SMEs’ specific business activities. We study SMEs’ customer access, increasing competition, external funding or access to finance, rising input costs, skilled labor shortages, exogenous shocks, global crises, and regulatory is­ sues. This study aims to fill the literature gap by exploring the impact of digital technology, using digital economy and society index (DESI) as proxies for the SME issues. We use DESI and SME data from a survey on European enterprises’ access to finance. We find that digital transformation strengthens SMEs’ ability and flexibility to address main business issues. Furthermore, findings reveal that digitally transformed SMEs have fewer concerns about access to new and traditional customers, competition changes, access to finance, increasing input costs, external shocks, and regulatory changes. However, digital transformation also brings risks, such as the shortage of skilled labor and experienced managers and loss of inherent competitiveness. The novelty of our work lies in supplying quantitative knowledge on the link between digital transformation and European SMEs’ critical business concerns. These findings substantially increase our understanding of the impact of digital change on European SMEs’ business activities. Collapse

Topics: digital transformation database system pandemic business model supply chain management

Methods: cross sectional research survey Wald test data modeling design science

Understanding Drivers for Acceptance and Use of Digital Care Services for Seniors: Learning from a Value-Focused Thinking Study in Poland and Sweden

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Soja, E.; Soja, P.; Kolkowska, E.

Abstract: In order to maximize sustainability of digital services for seniors, the opinio ... Expand

Abstract: In order to maximize sustainability of digital services for seniors, the opinions of the main stakeholders and the broader context of independent and healthy ageing should be taken into consideration. Therefore, we applied a Value-focused thinking (VFT) approach to understand values held by seniors in the context of implementation of ICT for independent and healthy ageing. To this end, we conducted interviews with seniors in Poland and Sweden, which are countries with very diverse approaches to digital care services (DCS). Based on the interviews with seniors, we discovered 7 common fundamental objectives and 11 means objectives supporting the fundamental goals with varying understanding depending on a country, which allowed us to discuss the drivers for acceptance and use of DCS for seniors. Collapse

Topics: information system use privacy systems implementation health information system system support

Methods: qualitative interview personal interview

Where Do Born Globals Come from? A Neoconfigurational Institutional Theory

2022 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Fainshmidt, Stav; Smith, Adam W.; Aguilera, Ruth V.

Abstract: Born globals, recently established firms that obtain a substantial share of thei ... Expand

Abstract: Born globals, recently established firms that obtain a substantial share of their revenue from foreign markets, can help strengthen countries’ economic vitality and increase innovation levels. The extent of born global formation varies considerably across countries, yet it is unclear why this is the case. Drawing on the neoconfigurational institutional perspective, we develop a typology of institutional contexts associated with high born global formation rates. We posit that high rates of born global formation occur where institutional features favorable to border-spanning activities complement institutional features conducive to entrepreneurial activity, thus forming an institutional configuration that enables, equips, and motivates more societal members to launch born globals. Accordingly, we hypothesize a primary institutional configuration where international transaction facilitators, entrepreneurial educational capital, and entrepreneurial norms combine to propel born global formation. Further, we draw on the internationalization literature to propose two alternative types of institutional configurations conducive to born global formation. These two types provide functional substitutes for the primary type and are distinctly propelled by (1) escapism from low-quality public governance institutions or (2) immigrant entrepreneurship. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis on data from 66 countries supports our typology and illustrates why born global activity may thrive even in contexts with institutional weaknesses. Our study develops a neoconfigurational model to advance a holistic understanding of the born global phenomenon’s theoretical drivers, contributing to research on comparative capitalism and international entrepreneurship. Collapse

Topics: entrepreneurship financial information system accounting anonymity online learning system

Methods: theory development survey robustness check survey design statistical hypothesis test

Theories: institutional theory

Supporting Seniors in Independent and Healthy Ageing through ICT: Insights from a Value-Focused Thinking Study in Latvia, Poland and Sweden

2021 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Soja, Ewa; Soja, Piotr; Kolkowska, Ella; Kirikova, Marite; Muceniece, Agneta

Abstract: The 2019 WHO symposium on the future of digital health systems emphasized the im ... Expand

Abstract: The 2019 WHO symposium on the future of digital health systems emphasized the importance of putting the individuals at the center of their own health and well-being. Consequently, strategies for active and healthy ageing should comply with older people’s needs and requirements. In this paper, we applied the value-focused thinking approach to investigate the values held by seniors in Latvia, Poland and Sweden in the context of implementation of ICT for active and healthy ageing. Based on interviews with seniors, thirteen value-based objectives were identified and compared with domains of Active Ageing Index (AAI), a country-level measure of healthy and active ageing. The main findings imply that ICT is an important means of attaining the higher level of the AAI. To this end, taking into consideration value-based objectives held by seniors appears a necessary condition. Further, the results suggest that AAI index should be adjusted to the needs of seniors. Collapse

Topics: systems implementation usability privacy digital divide information system use

Methods: qualitative interview personal interview

Explaining Women’s Level of Involvement in Nascent Entrepreneurial Activities – The Non-linear Role of R&D Investments in Different OECD Countries

2020 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Gaies, Brahim; Maalaoui, Adnane

Abstract: While women entrepreneurship is often seen to be one of the most important econo ... Expand

Abstract: While women entrepreneurship is often seen to be one of the most important economic and social phenomena of our times, especially since many women opt for entrepreneurship to reconcile their professional and personal lives, relatively less attention has been paid to the effect of R&D on women’s entrepreneurship. In this study we argue and empirically demonstrate how R&D impacts nascent women’s entrepreneurship. Regarding the debate and ambiguous evidence concerning the linkages between entrepreneurship and innovation, we investigate not only the linear relation between the tandem “R&D and nascent women’s entrepreneurship” but also the nonlinear one. Collapse

Topics: research and development entrepreneurship database system innovation management missing data

Methods: longitudinal research autocorrelation analysis statistical hypothesis test Wald test robustness check

Immigrants and Foreign Firm Performance

2020 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Hernandez, Exequiel; Kulchina, Elena

Abstract: Studies have demonstrated that foreign firms locate where immigrants from their ... Expand

Abstract: Studies have demonstrated that foreign firms locate where immigrants from their home countries reside and have suggested that doing so can improve performance. We argue that to properly assess how immigrants impact the performance of co-national firms, research must account for heterogeneity in how independent foreign firms (owned by individual foreigners) versus multinational corporation (MNC) subsidiaries (owned by a foreign corporate parent) benefit from immigrant communities. Independent firms have a greater need for resources from the immigrant community and depend more on their individual managers’ personal connections within the community to obtain such resources. Subsidiaries of MNCs can instead rely on the impersonal organizational resources of their parent firm (e.g., brand, reputation, channels) to access valuable immigrant community resources. Using data on foreign firms in Russia during 2006–2011, we find that immigrants improve the profitability of co-national independent firms only if they are managed by immigrant chief executive officers (CEOs), whereas co-national MNC subsidiaries profit from immigrants regardless of their CEOs’ nationality. Our study suggests that although organizations benefit from the resources of co-national immigrant communities in foreign markets, the means by which they activate them—personal or impersonal—systematically vary across different types of firms. Collapse

Topics: organizational productivity social capital research and development social network criminality

Methods: longitudinal research robustness check difference in differences survey experimental group

The Relative Role of Digital Complementary Assets and Regulation in Discontinuous Telemedicine Innovation in European Hospitals

2020 | Journal of Management Information Systems | Citations: 11

Authors: Steinhauser, Stefanie; Doblinger, Claudia; Hüsig, Stefan

Abstract: Telemedicine innovation is important for accelerating the digital transformation ... Expand

Abstract: Telemedicine innovation is important for accelerating the digital transformation of the health care sector. However, telemedicine is a discontinuous digital innovation, and incumbent health care organizations are lagging in its adoption. We combine research on IT innovation adoption and discontinuous innovation to study the relative role of two drivers of discontinuous innovation adoption: digital complementary assets and the regulatory environment. Our findings from 1,753 acute care hospitals across 30 European countries suggest that digital complementary assets have a stronger effect on telemedicine innovation adoption than the regulatory framework. In addition, we observe application- and business model-specific differences. Overall, our findings add the role of organizational versus regulatory drivers of discontinuous innovation adoption to information systems research, emphasize the importance of digital complementary assets for the adoption of discontinuous innovation by incumbent organizations, and provide new insights into how the diffusion of telemedicine innovation can be accelerated. Collapse

Topics: electronic health innovation management digital innovation digital transformation business-to-business

Methods: regression analysis method descriptive statistic cross sectional research statistical hypothesis test survey

Theories: resource based view of the firm

Total factor productivity growth in information technology services industries: A multi-theoretical perspective

2014 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Chou, Yen-Chun; Shao, Benjamin B. M.

Abstract: Information technology (IT) services refer to the delivery and support of IT ope ... Expand

Abstract: Information technology (IT) services refer to the delivery and support of IT operations and activities in order to satisfy business requirements and to manage IT infrastructure for organizations. Considered part of knowledge-intensive business services, IT services provide an output used by other sectors and play an increasingly important role in the services-based economy. Based on the theories of production, innovation and competition, we study total factor productivity growth of IT services industries in 25 Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries over the period of 1995 to 2007 using Malmquist productivity index (MPI) as the performance metric and data envelopment analysis (DEA) as the measurement methodology. We then further decompose MPI into three components that provide a full analysis: technical change (for innovation), efficiency change (for catch-up), and scale change (for demand fluctuation). These IT services industries are found to show notable productivity growth when compared with other services industries, the services sector as a whole, and the economy at large. Through a multi-theoretical lens, our breakdown analysis reveals that the IT services industry is an innovator adept at making technological progress that becomes the key driver behind observed productivity growth; efficiency change exerts a relatively small negative impact; and scale change being mainly decided by client demands impairs productivity. Implications for IT services at both country and industry levels are drawn from our findings to provide suggestions for policymaking and strategy formulation. Collapse

Topics: productivity innovation management electronic commerce internet technology database system

Methods: trade-off analysis method data envelopment analysis longitudinal research descriptive statistic

Theories: economic production theory

COMMONALITIES AND CONTRASTS: AN INVESTIGATION OF ERP USABILITY IN A COMPARATIVE USER STUDY

2014 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Lambeck, Christian; Fohrholz, Corinna; Leyh, Christian; Supulniece, Inese; Müller, Romy

Abstract: In recent years, several user studies have examined specific usability problems ... Expand

Abstract: In recent years, several user studies have examined specific usability problems in the field of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). These studies focused on different branches, various usability aspects, and several user groups. In spite of this diversification, some common and essential usability problems have become apparent, which are related to system complexity and difficulties in finding required information. However, these findings are based on the situation in a specific country, a singular ERP system and few data samples. Therefore, this paper aims at complementing the related work by results from a comparative user survey from two different European countries: Germany and Latvia. The survey is based on 184 ERP users from Germany and 24 ERP users from Latvia. The results indicated that both countries have several contrasts, but also diverse commonalities in industry, ERP market and culture. However, users in both countries are very homogenous with regard to the assessment of usability problems in their ERP interfaces. This paper investigates elementary usability problems derived from the related work and examines to which extent they are valid in both countries today. The main hypothesis claims that diverse national characteristics do not necessarily lead to a different assessment of usability problems in ERP systems. Collapse

Topics: enterprise resource planning usability information system use supply chain management human resource management

Methods: survey literature study qualitative interview survey design case study

Theories: cultural dimensions theory

Linking Investments in Telecoms and Economic Growth: An Empirical Analysis of Total Factor Productivity and its Determinants in the Context of Transition Economies

2011 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Samoilenko, Sergey; Bryson, Kweku-Muata

Abstract: The limited resources of Transition Economies (TE) accentuate the need for formu ... Expand

Abstract: The limited resources of Transition Economies (TE) accentuate the need for formulation of the effective and efficient policies for investments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). However, the empirical evidence required for sound decision making is scarce, thus prompting a call for additional studies in the area of the macroeconomic impact of investments in ICT. Using time series data for the period from 1993 to 2002, we investigate the impact of investments in Telecoms on Total Factor Productivity (TFP) in the context of 18 TEs of Central Europe. The results of the data analysis suggest that while all TEs exhibited overall growth in productivity, the annual growth of the majority was inconsistent and not determined by the increase in the levels of investments and full-time Telecom labor. The results also indicate that introduced for the purposes of the investigation composite proxy variable Change in Productivity may reliably serve as a predictor of TFP for eight out of eighteen TEs, thus indicating actionable paths for TEs to obtain a spillover effect from investments in ICT. Collapse

Topics: productivity communication service infrastructure analytical information system database system technological change

Methods: longitudinal research time series analysis data envelopment analysis trade-off analysis method ordinary least square

Theories: theory of economic growth