Aug 2026· Sustainability· Vol 18, pp. 8497· 0 citations· 70 references
TL;DR
The analysis found no statistically significant moderating effect of ecosystem contextual factors, including institutional quality and digital maturity, on the relationship between digital capabilities and sustainable business growth across Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt.
Abstract
Digital transformation is now one of the key engines of entrepreneurial behavior and company development, but there is still a lack of empirical evidence on the creation of digital ecosystems, especially in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. This paper examines how digital capabilities affect the sustainable development of entrepreneurial ventures and how the relationship changes depending on the three emerging digital ecosystems of Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt. Data were collected through a structured online questionnaire developed using Google Forms and distributed via email, WhatsApp, and the Prolific research platform to owners, managers, and key decision-makers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed, yielding 131 responses, of which 22 were excluded after screening for completeness and eligibility. The final analytical sample comprised 109 valid firm-level responses from Egypt (n = 51), Lebanon (n = 34), and Iraq (n = 24). The study quantitatively assesses digital capabilities on several dimensions, including digital infrastructure adoption, data and analytics capabilities, digital product development, and digital revenue integration, and attributes those capabilities to sustainable business growth indicators (the revenue stability, scalability, profitability, and long-term resilience). The results showed that more robust digital capabilities have more significant impacts on sustainable business growth outcomes, whereas basic digitalization has no significant effect. Further, the analysis found no statistically significant moderating effect of ecosystem contextual factors, including institutional quality and digital maturity, on the relationship between digital capabilities and sustainable business growth across Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt. This study contributes to the body of knowledge of entrepreneurship and sustainability in emerging markets by integrating Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, and Digital Ecosystem Theory. The findings have practical implications for entrepreneurs and policymakers who aim to use digital transformation to attain sustainable entrepreneurship in the vulnerable and dynamic digital ecosystems.
This study is among the first to integrate innovation, agility, and digital resilience into a unified parallel mediation framework linking digital transformation to sustainable business growth, empirically validated in a multi-country Middle Eastern context.
Khodor Shatila· Journal of Entrepreneurship,...· 0 citations
The findings indicate that e-commerce, cloud computing, customer relationship management, and digital marketing tools supported operational coordination, market reach, and customer engagement, but limited digital skills, implementation costs, cybersecurity risks, and infrastructure constraints restricted deeper adoption.
Sundeep Kumar, N. Kumar, Akash Singh· Journal of Global Entreprene...· 0 citations
Digital transformation is reshaping business environments worldwide, yet empirical evidence on its effects within African emerging economies remains sparse. This study examines the influence of process transformation on the sustainability for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the cities of Douala and Yaoundé, Cameroon. Grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, and guided by dynamic capabilities theory, the study employs a causal research design drawing on primary data from 380 SME managers selected through stratified random sampling. Ordinary least squares (OLS) and seemingly unrelated regressions (SUR) were applied to test the hypothesised effects across composite and disaggregated sustainability outcomes. Results reveal that process transformation exerts a positive and highly significant influence on overall sustainability (β = 0.458, p < 0.01), with consistent effects across Douala (β = 0.472) and Yaoundé (β = 0.420). Disaggregating by TBL dimension, process transformation significantly improves economic (β = 0.413), social (β = 0.342), and environmental sustainability (β = 0.482), all at the 1% significance level. Environmental sustainability records the strongest effect, suggesting that process digitalisation carries important ecological co-benefits for urban Cameroonian SMEs.
Ndoh LAWRENCE NJAMNSHI, Vukenkeng Andrew Wujung, Neba Noela Buwah· International Journal of Acc...· 0 citations
Entrepreneurship is widely recognized as a key driver of economic growth, and governments across societies support entrepreneurial activities through various programs and incentives. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the digital economy and the Internet of Things on entrepreneurial development. In terms of purpose, the research is applied, and in terms of nature, it is descriptive-survey. The data collection method was library-based, and the tool used was note-taking. The statistical population consisted of managers and employees of startup businesses in Kermanshah Province. Due to the dispersion of the population, simple random sampling was employed, and the sample size was determined to be 384 individuals. Data collection was conducted in the field using questionnaires, including a researcher-developed digital economy questionnaire, a researcher-developed Internet of Things questionnaire, and the entrepreneurial development questionnaire by Antoncic and Hisrich (2003). The validity of the questionnaires was confirmed by experts, and their reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha, yielding coefficients of 0.79 for the digital economy, 0.81 for the Internet of Things, and 0.78 for entrepreneurial development. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and structural equation modeling with the aid of SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24 software. The findings indicated that the digital economy, with a significance level of 0.001 and a standardized coefficient of β = 0.51, and the Internet of Things, with a significance level of 0.001 and a standardized coefficient of β = 0.12, have a significant effect on entrepreneurial development. Additionally, goodness-of-fit indices across all factors were at an acceptable level. The results suggest that the digital economy and the Internet of Things are two critical factors and tools influencing the development of entrepreneurship in startup businesses.
Nader Naderi, B. Rezaee, Rasoul Mohammadi et al.· Digital Transformation and A...· 0 citations
Green digital technologies are increasingly used to improve environmental visibility, resource efficiency, and sustainability-oriented decision-making. However, their association with sustainable business performance may depend on whether firms convert digital resources into organizational capabilities and implemented circular practices. Drawing on the Natural Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, and Institutional Theory, this study examines a moderated serial mediation model in which eco-innovation and circular economy adoption sequentially mediate the relationship between green digital technologies and sustainable business performance, while institutional support moderates the relationship between eco-innovation and circular economy adoption. Survey data were collected from managers and professionals in Saudi industrial and manufacturing firms. Of the 450 questionnaires distributed, 420 were returned, and 386 usable responses remained after data-quality screening and were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling in SmartPLS 4. The results show that green digital technologies are positively associated with eco-innovation (β = 0.662, p < 0.001) and circular economy adoption (β = 0.263, p < 0.001). Eco-innovation is positively associated with circular economy adoption (β = 0.487, p < 0.001), which, in turn, is strongly associated with sustainable business performance (β = 0.726, p < 0.001). The serial indirect association through eco-innovation and circular economy adoption is significant (β = 0.234, p < 0.001). Institutional support also strengthens the eco-innovation–circular economy adoption relationship, although the interaction is comparatively modest (β = 0.118, p = 0.002). The study contributes by distinguishing eco-innovation as a resource-conversion capability from circular economy adoption as an implemented organizational practice and by identifying institutional support as a boundary condition within Saudi industrial firms.
This study examines the impact of Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility (E-CSR) and Digital Technology Adoption (DTA) on the corporate performance (CP) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam. While prior studies have typically examined E-CSR or DTA in isolation, empirical evidence integrating these two strategic orientations within a unified framework for SMEs in emerging economies remains limited. It specifically examines the mediating roles of Green Process Innovation (GPI) and Supplier Commitment (SC), as well as the moderating role of Market Dynamism (MD). Using a quantitative approach, the research employs Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze survey data collected from 120 SME managers across various sectors, including manufacturing, trade, and services. Validated measurement scales were employed, and the data analysis involved testing for reliability, model fit, and hypotheses using bootstrapping and multi-group analysis. The findings reveal that both E-CSR and DTA have a positive impact on corporate performance, both directly and indirectly, through GPI and SC. These two mediators highlight the importance of enhancing internal innovation processes and cultivating robust supplier relationships. Additionally, market dynamism significantly moderates the links between GPI/SC and CP, emphasizing the value of adaptability in volatile environments. Further analysis indicates that these effects vary across sectors, underscoring the contextual nature of sustainability and digitalization strategies. Practically, the results guide managers and policymakers on how to integrate sustainability and digital strategies into the core of business operations. Promoting green innovation, investing in digital tools, and strengthening supplier engagement are critical, particularly when aligned with specific industry contexts. From a theoretical perspective, this study extends Stakeholder Theory and Dynamic Capabilities Theory by explaining how environmental responsibility and digital technology adoption jointly translate into SME performance through green process innovation and SC under varying levels of market dynamism. This study contributes to the literature by integrating E-CSR and digital transformation within a unified framework, uncovering both the mechanisms and sector-specific variations that drive sustainable performance in emerging economies.
Unknown authors· PaperASIA· 0 citations
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