Jul 2026· International Journal of Applied Sciences & Development· 0 citations· 9 references
TL;DR
An evidence-based prioritization of digital transformation barriers for the Republic of Azerbaijan is developed by integrating enterprise survey evidence with expert consensus building and multi-criteria decision-making and translates rankings into targeted policy and managerial packages, including a sequenced implementation roadmap and monitoring indicators.
Abstract
Digital transformation is widely viewed as a productivity and competitiveness imperative, yet its diffusion remains uneven in many emerging economies where firms face binding constraints in skills, finance, infrastructure, governance, and digital trust. This article develops an evidence-based prioritization of digital transformation barriers for the Republic of Azerbaijan by integrating enterprise survey evidence with expert consensus building and multi-criteria decision-making. The empirical base combines a 2024 survey of 450 enterprises (200 medium and large firms and 250 SMEs) across key industries with a two-round Delphi exercise involving 15 experts from government, ICT industry, business associations, and academia. Barriers are prioritized using a hybrid Delphi-TOPSIS model under three implementation-oriented criteria (expected impact, feasibility, and cost/risk). The revised version strengthens the methodological explanation by clarifying Delphi expert-selection filters, expanding the interpretation of the methods section, adding scenario-based robustness discussion, and linking observable adoption indicators such as ERP/CRM and cloud use to barrier severity. Results indicate that the shortage of qualified digital personnel is the most critical barrier (closeness coefficient 0.78), followed by limited financial resources for digital investments (0.75), weak regional digital infrastructure (0.62), cybersecurity readiness gaps (0.59), and organizational resistance to change (0.55). The ranking implies that Azerbaijan’s transition is constrained less by connectivity alone than by complementary intangible inputs - skills, financing and managerial capability - that determine firms’ absorptive capacity. The study contributes a context-specific prioritization and validation procedure suitable for emerging economies and translates rankings into targeted policy and managerial packages, including a sequenced implementation roadmap and monitoring indicators.
Digital transformation shapes the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies. This study examines digital technology adoption, perceived benefits, and implementation barriers among SMEs in India, Brazil, and South Africa. A qualitative multiple-case design was employed, based on 800 semi-structured interviews with SME owners, managers, and key decision-makers. A common interview guide was used across the countries, and data were organised in NVivo and analysed through thematic coding. The findings indicate that e-commerce, cloud computing, customer relationship management, and digital marketing tools supported operational coordination, market reach, and customer engagement. However, limited digital skills, implementation costs, cybersecurity risks, and infrastructure constraints restricted deeper adoption. Integrating the Technology-Organization-Environment framework with the Resource-Based View, the study shows that digital transformation outcomes depend on the alignment of technological access, organisational capabilities, and external institutional support. The study provides comparative evidence and policy implications for strengthening SME digitalisation in emerging economies.
Sundeep Kumar, N. Kumar, Akash Singh· Journal of Global Entreprene...· 0 citations
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) significantly contribute to South Africa's economic growth and job creation; nevertheless, their sustainability is hindered by ongoing structural issues. The article analyses how digital platforms—such as fintech, digital payments, and e-commerce—can facilitate the growth and economic resilience of SMEs. The research employs a rigorous desk review process to synthesise information from academic literature, policy reports, and case studies published from 2015 to 2025. The analysis utilises thematic synthesis, uncovering four principal themes: (1) Barriers to SME Growth, (2) Digital Platforms as Solutions, (3) Obstacles to Digital Adoption, and (4) Theoretical Perspectives on Digital Adoption. Critical findings indicate that although digital platforms have substantial prospects, their adoption is constrained by infrastructural deficiencies, digital illiteracy, regulatory challenges, and perceived risks. Utilising the Technology Acceptance Model and Diffusion of Innovation Theory, the research illustrates that perceived utility and ease of use depend on structural and ecological preparedness. The document advocates for a comprehensive, contextually tailored support system that amalgamates infrastructure enhancement, digital skills education, regulatory reform, and the cultivation of institutional trust. The paper's contribution is the reclassification of contextual restrictions as primary factors influencing digital adoption in SMEs within emerging markets.
N. Mokone, Tonderai Kapesa· International Journal of Bus...· 0 citations
This study examines the essential role of innovative approaches in enhancing business sustainability, focusing on how technology and digital transformation can manage growing data volumes, reduce energy consumption, and improve organisational performance. As digital technologies rapidly evolve, companies must adapt their policies and practices, often facing an adaptation crisis that requires social and institutional changes. Effective management of digital transformation calls for new corporate policies and structuring. Research indicates that many organisations struggle with digital transformation due to a lack of awareness of their current digital capabilities and unclear guidelines for adopting new technologies. Using the Network Readiness Index (NRI), this study assesses firms' readiness to leverage digital technologies across various dimensions, including technology, human resources, governance, and impact. The result of regression analysis emphasises the prominent effect of the people factor on technology. Through semi-structured interviews, a comparative analysis with index scores reveals that while digitalisation is seen as a cost-saving tool, its adoption varies widely across sectors. To address potential negative impacts of digitalisation on employee well-being, the study recommends policies to monitor screen time, encourage offline activities, and design ergonomic digital workspaces. By promoting healthier digital practices, organisations can improve employee well-being and effectively use digital tools, ultimately enhancing competitiveness in a dynamic landscape.
Dilek Şahin Yomralıoğlu, Beyza Toksoy· Istanbul Journal of Economic...· 0 citations
Purpose: Digital transformation has become a strategic imperative for organizations seeking to enhance competitiveness and adaptability in dynamic digital environments. Despite extensive scholarly attention, many digital transformation initiatives fail due to the lack of integrated frameworks that systematically consolidate critical success factors (CSFs). The purpose of this study is to identify and synthesize the most influential CSFs of digital transformation and to propose a comprehensive, phase-based model that addresses this gap in existing literature.Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a PRISMA-guided structured conceptual systematic review to ensure methodological transparency and consistency in the identification and synthesis of relevant studies. A total of 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers published between 2010 and 2024 were selected using explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria focused on digital transformation and CSFs. The selected studies were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns, relationships, and dominant success factors across multiple industries.Findings: The findings indicate that leadership commitment and strategic alignment are the most consistently cited critical success factors (CSFs)for successful digital transformation.The analysis further reveals that the relevance of these factors evolves across transformation phases, demonstrating phase-specific salience and dynamic interaction among strategic, technological, organizational, and regulatory dimensions. Additional key factors include technological readiness, user-centric design, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. Based on these findings, the study proposes the Comprehensive digital transformation Success Model (CDTSM), which integrates these CSFs into a structured framework encompassing the initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and sustainability phases of digital transformationResearch limitations/implications: This study is conceptual and based on a structured systematic literature review of existing scholarly work. Although the review follows PRISMA-guided procedures to ensure transparency, the proposed model remains theoretically grounded and requires empirical validation across different organizational and industry contexts.Practical implications: The proposed model offers a structured and actionable guide for managers and decision-makers to systematically plan, implement, and sustain digital transformation initiatives. By emphasizing strategic alignment, leadership commitment, and regulatory considerations, the model supports organizations in reducing transformation risks and improving implementation outcomes.Social Implications: Being aware of main critical factors in digital transformation at firms can facilitate the change in the way human resources collaborate and socialize in firm’s teams and networks.Originality/value: This study contributes to the digital transformation literature by consolidating fragmented critical success factors (CSFs)into a single, coherent, and holistic model. The CDTSM extends existing frameworks by integrating technological, organizational, human, and regulatory dimensions,and introduces a lifecycle-oriented and temporally structured perspective that explains how critical success factors (CSFs)factors evolve and interact across distinct transformation phases, extending RBV, Dynamic Capabilities, and TOE-based models. thereby providing both theoretical advancement and practical value for organizations navigating complex digital transformation processes.
Behzad Salavati Tehrani, Carmen de Pablos Heredero· Intangible Capital· 0 citations
. Digital innovations associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), including Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Cloud Computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), have significantly transformed societies and economies. These technologies offer opportunities for economic diversification, job creation, digital transformation, local value addition, and reduced inequality. This paper argues that Africa’s effective participation in the 4IR depends not only on adopting technology but also on strong governance, sound regulatory frameworks, strategic policy implementation, cross-sector collaboration, targeted investment, and skills development. Drawing on professional experience within Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communication, and Digital Economy, including involvement in national ICT and AI strategy working groups, the study examines key drivers of digital innovation. The findings reveal that while advocacy and policy development are important, they are insufficient without context-specific and adaptive implementation frameworks. The paper highlights the importance of evidence-based approaches to assess the impact of emerging technologies. It concludes that scalable innovation, effective governance, and practical implementation mechanisms are essential for positioning Africa as a competitive and sustainable digital economy.
Stella Gichuhi-Karau· Proceedings of the 1st Afric...· 0 citations
This study addresses the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) when adopting circular economy (CE) practices, particularly when the SMEs are characterized by limited resources, lack of expertise, and constrained access to tailored digital tools. Within the Interreg Baltic Sea Region (BSR) CIRC-2-ZERO initiative, a digital twin demo platform (DTDP) is being developed to support SMEs in terms of data-driven circular product and value chain design. Given that the effectiveness of such platforms depends on systematic evaluation, this study proposes a collaborative key performance indicator (KPI) framework to enable systematic assessment and monitoring of the DTDP. The study applies a participatory and iterative methodology, employing the nominal group technique and multi-voting across three expert workshops involving twenty participants from academia, business support organizations, and the electronics and engineered wood products sectors. This stakeholder-driven approach ensures that the KPI framework reflects both operational realities and user needs. The study is structured into three phases—namely, KPI identification, refinement and validation, and development of data collection procedures. The resulting framework organizes the KPIs into three core dimensions—technical performance, usability, and value impact—while distinguishing between indicators relevant to the DTDP’s piloting phase and those important for its long-term development. The framework also includes structured data collection procedures intended to support consistent and reliable monitoring. This study contributes to the growing body of research on performance assessment of digital platforms supporting CE transitions, offering a practical, stakeholder-driven tool for assessing DTDPs and supporting SMEs’ circular transformation. Moreover, the study promotes sustainable industrial practices and supports regional development in the BSR.