Browsing by Author "Silva, Rui"
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- Clarification of the present understanding of the assessment of an organization’s digital readiness in SMEsPublication . Silva, Rui; São Mamede, Henrique; Santos, VitorThe role of digital transformation (DT) in economic development is a vital and recurring point of research. It is particularly relevant if we consider the high percentage of digital transformation initiatives that fail to deliver the expected results, particularly in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This paper analyzes what is needed to make this transformation successful from an implementation perspective and, simultaneously, from the standpoint of obtaining the company’s expected results. This phenomenon is even more critical to decipher and understand when we look at the small and medium enterprises that face more significant challenges due to the scarcity of resources and needed skills. This work reviews a large variety of models through an extensive systematic literature review (SLR) that assess the readiness and maturity of the digital transformation of enterprises, with a focus on SMEs, with its primary objectives being (1) to review the existing studies and models that assess an organization’s maturity and readiness in the context of digital transformation, focusing on SMEs; (2) to identify if there are gaps considering the importance of the SMEs; and (3) to propose a standardized set of dimensions that should always be considered in a digital transformation assessment. The outcome of this research provides an essential contribution by identifying apparent gaps in the assessment of digital transformation in SMEs and proposing a scalable and standardized set of categories and subcategories that can be used across any future assessment model. These contributions are even more relevant when referencing minimal deep research in the context of SMEs and Digital Transformation.
- A new proposed model to assess the digital organizational readiness to maximize the results of the digital transformation in SMEsPublication . Silva, Rui; São Mamede, Henrique; Santos, VitorScientific research in digital transformation is expanding in scope, quantity, and relevance, bringing forth diverse perspectives on which factors and specific dimensions—such as organizational structure, culture, and technological readiness—affect the success of digital transformation initiatives. Numerous studies have proposed mechanisms to assess an organization’s maturity through digital transformation across various models. Some of these models focus on external influences, others on internal factors, or both. Although these assessments provide valuable insights into a company’s transformation state, they often lack consistency, and recent research highlights key gaps. Specifically, many models primarily reflect the views of senior management on the general progress of digital transformation rather than on measurable outcomes. Moreover, these models tend to target large enterprises, overlooking small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are crucial to economic growth yet face unique challenges, such as limited resources and expertise. Our study addresses these gaps by concentrating on SMEs and introducing a novel approach to assessing digital transformation readiness—a metric that reflects how prepared an organization is to optimize transformation outcomes. Following design science research methodology, we develop a model that centers on the perspectives of general employees, offering companies an in-depth view of their readiness across 20 dimensions. Each dimension is evaluated through behaviors indicative of the highest level of digital transformation readiness, helping companies identify areas to maximize potential benefits. Our model focuses not on technological quality but on the degree to which behaviors essential for leveraging technology and innovative business models are integrated within the organization.