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Abstract: This paper aims to explore the patterns in micro, small-, and medium-sized enterprises’ (MSMEs) digital transformation journey during recent years. Using an emergent concurrent mixed-methods approach, we combined insights from six in-depth interviews with MSME managers and owners with survey data from 66 MSMEs. The findings reveal major inhibitors and accelerators of MSMEs’ digital transformation and demonstrate how they cope with them by engaging in digitalisation actions. This study also provides insights into how inhibitors, accelerators, and digitalisation actions vary across MSME sizes. While an increased adoption of digital technology was observed among the participating MSMEs, this study identifies three distinct digital transformation paths: necessary, experimental, and committed. Each path is shaped by a unique combination of inhibitors and accelerators. From the practical perspective, this research provides insights for MSME managers and owners on how to tailor their digital transformation efforts to their unique inhibitors and accelerators. In addition, our insights can help policy makers to promote the digital transformation of MSMEs through appropriate measures and support mechanisms tailored to the specific needs of smaller enterprises.
Keywords: digital transformation, turbulent environment, micro, small- and medium-sized enterprises, case study
Published in DKUM: 25.08.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 5
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Abstract: With the emergence of social media, customer relationship management has undergone noticeable changes and gained a great deal of attention from researchers and practitioners in recent years. In this paper, we provide additional insights into how intensively business-to-customer micro, small and medium-sized enterprises adopt social customer relationship management. Based on the literature review and insights from interviews with six micro, small and medium-sized enterprise owners/managers, we developed a conceptual research model that integrates the antecedents, intensity of social customer relationship management adoption, and performance outcomes. For the intensity of social customer relationship management adoption, we applied process-based conceptualization consisting of the customer engagement process and customer data management process. Then we empirically tested a conceptual research model by using data collected in a survey of 119 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Slovenia. We found that not all antecedents are equally relevant to both processes of the intensity of social customer relationship management adoption. Additionally, we found that the intensity of social customer relationship management adoption has a positive effect on customer relationship performance. Based on these findings, we provide recommendations for further research and offer practical implications for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises considering social customer relationship management adoption.
Keywords: social customer relationship management adoption, adoption intensity, antecedent, performance, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
Published in DKUM: 11.03.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 11
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Abstract: There has been a global plummeting trend of failure in most manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) due to purported supply chain inefficiency. It is imperative for clothing manufacturing SMEs in developing nations like Zimbabwe, with reference to Bulawayo Province, which lacks digitization to integrate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions into their supply chain operations to improving efficiency and maintain competitiveness in the global market. Thus, the purpose of the study was to evaluate ICT and supply chain efficiency in the clothing manufacturing SMEs in Bulawayo Province. Employing the pragmatic approach, data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires from a sample of 107 from a total population of 147 that were triangulated with 15 interviews from clothing manufacturing SMEs in Bulawayo. A simple linear regression analysis through Ordinary Least Squares was conducted to test the relationship between ICT and supply chain efficiency. The results show that ICT has a positive and statistically significant effect on cost performance, agility and delivery performance in Bulawayo clothing manufacturing SMEs. By prioritizing ICT adoption, managers can achieve better cost management, increased responsiveness to market demands, and enhanced delivery capabilities. It is recommended that clothing manufacturing SMEs in Bulawayo should embrace the ICT. Further studies should examine the relationship between ICT and supply chain efficiency in manufacturing SMEs across different industries and nations.
Keywords: information and communication technology, supply chain efficiency, SMEs (small and medium enterprises), material requirement planning
Published in DKUM: 17.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 6
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Abstract: The article explores the implementation of digital technology in small and medium-sized Slovenian enterprises (SMEs), with a focus on understanding existing trends, obstacles, and necessary support measures during their digitalization progress. The surveyed companies mainly rely on conventional technologies like websites and teamwork platforms, emphasizing the significance of strong online communication and presence in the modern business world. The adoption of advanced technologies such as blockchain is limited due to the perceived complexity and relevance to specific sectors. This study uses variance analysis to identify potential differences in the digitalization challenges faced by companies of different sizes. The results indicate that small companies face different financial constraints and require more differentiated support mechanisms than their larger counterparts, with a particular focus on improving digital competencies among employees. Despite obtaining enhancements such as elevated operational standards and uninterrupted telecommuting via digitalization, companies still face challenges of differentiation and organizational culture change. The study emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the different challenges and support needs of different-sized companies to promote comprehensive progress in digital transformation. Our findings provide important insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and SMEs to formulate comprehensive strategies and policies that effectively address the diverse needs and challenges of the digital transformation landscape.
Keywords: digital transformation, digital technology adoption, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), digitalization challenges, digitalization support
Published in DKUM: 11.04.2024; Views: 299; Downloads: 50
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Abstract: Although agile methods gained popularity and became globally widespread, developing secure software with agile methods remains a challenge. Method elements (i.e., roles, activities, and artifacts) that aim to increase software security on one hand can reduce the characteristic agility of agile methods on the other. The overall aim of this paper is to provide small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the means to improve the sustainability of their software development process in terms of software security despite their limitations, such as low capacity and/or financial resources. Although software engineering literature offers various security elements, there is one key research gap that hinders the ability to provide such means. It remains unclear not only how much individual security elements contribute to software security but also how they impact the agility and costs of software development. To address the gap, we identified security elements found in the literature and evaluated them for their impact on software security, agility, and costs in an international study among practitioners. Finally, we developed a novel lightweight approach for evaluating agile methods from a security perspective. The developed approach can help SMEs to adapt their software development to their needs.
Keywords: secure software development, security engineering, agile, small and medium sized enterprises, software development management, security
Published in DKUM: 29.11.2023; Views: 494; Downloads: 9
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