Search Results (1,735)

In the dynamic landscape of digital transformation, data interoperability—particularly for location data—is a key enabler of operational efficiency, innovation, and collaboration for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Despite their strategic importance, SMEs face significant challenges in integrating and utilizing location data, which puts them at a disadvantage in the increasingly digital global market. As part of the European DIS4SME project, this study proposes a methodology to address these challenges, characterized by the rigorous development of a training curriculum aimed at upskilling and retraining SME owners and employees. The curriculum emphasizes practical learning through real business case studies and is aligned with European policies such as the INSPIRE Directive and the European Data Strategy. Accordingly, ten courses were designed, forming a modular and hierarchical curriculum that addresses SMEs’ diverse needs. Initial feedback from the first managers’ pilot implementation suggests that the structured training program effectively equips managers with strategic decision-making skills to address location data interoperability challenges. Full article

The article aims to identify the effects and determinants of implementing digital customer service tools in Polish SMEs in terms of digital customer requirements. Quantitative research was conducted among Polish SMEs using a survey. The following statistical methods were used to analyze the survey data: Dunn’s post hoc tests, ANOVA Kruskal–Wallis test, Kendall’s rank correlation coefficient, and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARSplines). Research results showed that Polish SMEs demonstrating better preparedness to serve digital customers achieve higher financial results, an increase in the rapidity and agility of customer service, increased customer satisfaction, and improved image. In addition, they gain sustainability benefits in the form of reduced emissions of hazardous substances or waste, recycling of waste, and reduced consumption of water, electricity, and other raw materials. The main determinants of digital transformation in customer service are the type of business (Polish Classification of Activities—PKD), the age of the company, and the educational level of its manager. The article contributes to promoting digitization among SME managers and motivates them to support customer service with digital tools. The identified effects and determinants provide practical guidance and encourage the implementation of digital technologies to meet the demands of digital customers. Using this approach, SMEs can increase their satisfaction and loyalty, resulting in better financial performance and improved competitiveness. This article identifies the economic and sustainability effects and determinants of implementing digital customer service tools in Polish SMEs in the context of digital customer requirements. This study has an original approach to the issue of digital transformation in the SME sector in Poland. Full article

Product safety is a significant issue, and leading industrialized nations, which are largely based on manufacturing, invest considerable time and resources to address product safety-related challenges. The social issues surrounding product safety can directly impact consumers’ health and safety, and failing to comply with product safety standards or providing inaccurate information to consumers can infringe on consumer rights. Therefore, product safety must be approached as a social issue with broad societal implications, necessitating government efforts to manage and oversee these concerns. Simplifying the complexities of product safety management and developing a systematic evaluation framework at the government level are essential. Product safety is a socially significant issue, and leading industrialized nations, which are largely based on manufacturing, invest considerable time and resources to address product safety-related challenges. This study developed a product safety evaluation framework for manufacturing companies based on Korean consumers’ awareness of product safety. It was designed to comprehensively assess manufacturing companies’ technological, procedural, and perceptual levels from a product safety perspective. A total of 101 companies participated, categorized into 43 electrical product manufacturers, 22 daily goods manufacturers, and 36 children’s product manufacturers. The primary goal of this evaluation framework is to enable companies to conduct self-assessments and ultimately promote a culture of product safety. Additionally, the framework aims to assist the government in establishing a systematic product safety evaluation system. Full article

The aim of this study is to assess the level of awareness and readiness of organizations to implement the assumptions of Industry 5.0, as well as to identify the benefits and challenges associated with this process. The paper makes an original contribution by combining empirical analysis with the proposal of a practical model, enabling a better understanding of the technological and social transformation process in Polish organizations. The article presents an original model for implementing the assumptions of Industry 5.0, integrating technological, social, and organizational aspects, offering a comprehensive approach to transformation towards sustainable and human-centered development. The study was conducted among 556 Polish companies from five sectors: IT, automotive, industrial, service, and banking/financial, using a non-random sampling method and data analysis through techniques such as association rules and hierarchical clustering. The research results indicate that most organizations are familiar with the basics of the Industry 5.0 concept (25% full knowledge, 66% partial knowledge), but only a portion is engaged in the transformation process (59%), which typically takes place gradually (53%). The most commonly reported benefit of Industry 5.0 by organizations was improved product and service quality (73%), while the most frequently cited challenges included the need for staff training (58%), ensuring data and network security (53%), and modernizing infrastructure and systems (52%). Benefits such as improved product quality, increased production efficiency, and cost optimization are primarily recognized by companies in the IT and industrial sectors. At the same time, challenges such as the need to modernize infrastructure and ensure data security, as well as implementation costs, remain significant barriers, particularly for small- and medium-sized enterprises. The research findings have practical significance as they provide companies and decision-makers with guidance on effective planning and implementation of actions related to the implementation of Industry 5.0. Full article

In the era of digital economy, boosting investment in digitalization serves as a crucial approach for the manufacturing sector to bolster its robustness and forge competitive edges. Utilizing data from listed manufacturing firms spanning 2007–2022, this paper investigates how the digital transformation of manufacturing inputs influences the organizational resilience of businesses and the underlying mechanism. The findings indicate that investment in digital technologies significantly enhances organizational resilience. The mechanism analysis suggests that investing in digitization will enhance organizational resilience by increasing the firm’s technological innovation capacity, and thus financial redundancy positively moderates the positive impact of digitization on organizational resilience. Heterogeneity analysis shows that there is heterogeneity among different enterprise sizes and industry intensities; enterprises should adjust their digitalization investment strategies in a timely manner according to their industries and enterprise sizes to strengthen and consolidate their organizational resilience. The results of this research provide practical proof and guidance for the development of the manufacturing sector, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the strengthening of organizational resilience. Full article

Individual leadership styles, including entrepreneurial leadership (EL), vary and encompass creative urges, risk-taking, decision-making, and a proactive mindset. This research explores how entrepreneurial leadership (EL) can positively impact entrepreneurial success (ES). It also highlights the positive influence that EL has on ES and investigates how technology management processes (TMPs) can play a mediating role. For this purpose, data were collected from employees in the SMEs sector in KP, Pakistan. The results indicate that EL has a significant relationship with ES and TMPs. Findings also reveal that TMPs partially mediate the relationship between EL and ES. Based on the findings, policy-makers and regulators can use the results of this study to design policies that encourage entrepreneurial activity and foster an environment favorable to SMEs in KP. This study’s findings can help KP officials understand the elements that influence the success of SMEs and devise policies that encourage the growth of technology management systems and diverse teams in SMEs. Full article

In the context of digitalization, this study investigated the financing mechanisms and preferences of technology-driven small and medium-sized enterprises (TDSMEs) listed on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ) in China. Its primary objective was to identify the factors influencing financing decisions and to elucidate how TDSMEs choose their financing options in a rapidly evolving digital environment. To achieve this goal, we constructed a panel regression model using financial data from 41 TDSMEs (2017–2023), identifying the key determinants of financing decisions while examining the impact of regional heterogeneity and validating the model’s robustness. The empirical findings indicated that various independent variables, including a firm’s capital structure, significantly influenced both internal and external financing. Additionally, six machine learning (ML) algorithms were employed to predict financing preferences. Among them, the random forest (RF) model achieved the best financing preferences performance, with an average F1 score of 0.814, indicating its robust predictive capability for TDSMEs’ financing preferences. To further validate the proposed models, we conducted a case study on a TDSME newly recognized in 2024 (named TS Pharmaceutical). Both the Lasso and RF models demonstrated outstanding predictive accuracy, confirming the practicality of the ML models. These results provide valuable insights into navigating the ever-changing digital financing landscape, offering recommendations for policymakers and financial institutions to better support TDSMEs. The key innovation of this study lies in its novel integration of conventional panel regression analysis and ML techniques, thereby bridging the gap between digital transformation and financing strategies while contributing both theoretically and practically to the field. Full article

Building information modelling (BIM) is an emerging technology in the building sector. As with any emerging technology, the identification of critical success factors (CSFs) for BIM is essential. On the other hand, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) consistently play a vital role in the construction industry. Therefore, it is essential to determine the critical success elements for the effective implementation of BIM in these companies. Hence, this study aims to determine the CSFs for implementing BIM in SMEs in the developing country of Iran. To accomplish this, three rounds of the Delphi technique were carried out with the participation of fifteen BIM professionals from SMEs based in Iran. According to the Delphi survey findings, a total of 27 CSFs were identified for the effective utilisation of BIM in SMEs. Subsequently, to assess the CSFs, a questionnaire utilising a five-point Likert scale measurement was designed. Then, it was distributed among specialists in construction SMEs in Iran. The questionnaire included twenty-seven factors categorised into four primary groups: technical, managerial, financial, and legal. A total of 56 questionnaires were gathered and examined. The findings indicate that the CSFs highlighted for implementing BIM in SMEs are above the average level. Furthermore, the CSFs with a high impact on successful BIM implementation in construction SMEs in Iran were determined. Four high-impact CSFs are (1) the employer’s demand; (2) understanding the advantages and practicality of implementing BIM; (3) awareness of and ensuring a return on investment; and (4) efficient and suitable legislation. The findings of this study can serve as a valuable resource for stakeholders, providing them with a useful tool to enhance decision-making about the implementation of BIM in SMEs, especially in developing countries. Full article

Digitalisation has significantly increased cybersecurity risks in organisations, notably for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in which IT departments often have relatively small teams and limited resources. Cyber insurance enables SMEs to navigate cybersecurity risks more economically, providing an essential risk transfer alternative to costly reduction strategies. This article examines the antecedents, emergence, and application of cyber insurance as a solution to cybersecurity concerns against the backdrop of increasing digitalisation. The research adopts a quantitative deductive approach, with an analysis of relevant literature providing the basis for the development of 12 hypotheses, which are then tested via a survey of 168 SMEs in Turkey. Using the Technology–Organisation–Environment–Individual (TOE-I) model as a top-line conceptual framework, the article finds that cyber insurance policy adoption has facilitated a more rapid and secure digitalisation process and that the mitigation of financial risk associated with cyberattacks has allowed companies to invest more widely in information technologies and systems. The article clearly has its limitations, in that it is based on primary research in one European country, but the authors believe that it nevertheless provides some new insights into the potential benefits of cyber insurance, and the key issues SMEs must consider when considering adopting a cyber insurance policy. The findings will be of practical relevance to SMEs and other organisations reviewing their cybersecurity strategy and are also of relevance to the wider debate around the costs and benefits of digitalisation. Full article

This manuscript presents the development and testing of a novel model designed to help organizations, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), address the challenges of integrating new technologies within the frameworks of Industry 4.0 and 5.0. The proposed model is a metamodel that evaluates organizational and contextual vulnerabilities concerning both existing technologies and potential external technologies under consideration for adoption. It synthesizes three foundational frameworks: the Viable System Model (VSM), the principles of viable and sustainable systems, and the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) Model. The findings demonstrate the practical applicability of this model in an SME context, showcasing its ability to facilitate the gradual and sustainable adoption of new technologies. By aligning business needs with technological solutions and leveraging insights from computer science and organizational cybernetics, the model adapts to varying levels of technological adoption, integrating organizational dynamics and business evolution to support the implementation of emerging technologies. Full article

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are pivotal in driving economic growth and sustainability, necessitating a strategic focus on innovation and knowledge application to navigate dynamic markets effectively. Grounded in the Natural Resource-Based View (NRBV) and Knowledge-Based View (KBV) theories, this study investigates the interplay between sustainability innovation, knowledge application, environmental awareness, and entrepreneurial success among SMEs in Turkey. The research adopts a cross-sectional design, using purposive sampling to survey 402 SME owners and managers from Istanbul and Ankara. Data were collected via electronic surveys and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS to validate the measurement model and test hypotheses through the PROCESS macro for mediation and moderated mediation analysis. The findings reveal that sustainability innovation significantly enhances entrepreneurial success by allowing businesses to develop products and services that address environmental and social concerns. Essentially, by integrating sustainability innovation, entrepreneurs create a growing market demand for eco-conscious solutions. Moreover, knowledge application positively influences entrepreneurial success and mediates the relationship between sustainability innovation and entrepreneurial success. Environmental awareness moderates this mediation, with the indirect effect being stronger for SMEs with higher environmental awareness. These results underscore the critical role of integrating sustainability and knowledge-driven strategies in achieving entrepreneurial success. Practical implications include fostering eco-innovation, enhancing knowledge-sharing practices, and promoting environmental awareness to achieve sustainable business growth and competitiveness in resource-constrained environments. This research provides actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to support sustainable entrepreneurship. Full article

This work represents a comprehensive and systematic literature review (SLR) that follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for research assessing information and cyber security maturity. The period from 2012 to 2024 was considered and the final collection of 96 studies was taken into account. Our findings were summarised in two stages, a quantitative analysis and a qualitative synthesis. In the first part, various quantitative indicators were used to analyse the evolution of the information and cyber security maturity assessment domain over the last twelve years. The qualitative synthesis, which was limited to 36 research papers, categorises the studies into three key areas: the development of new maturity models, the implementation of established models and frameworks, and the advancement of methodologies to support maturity assessments. The findings reveal significant progress in sector-specific customisation, the growing importance of lightweight models for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the integration of emerging technologies. This study provides important insights into the evolving landscape of information and cyber security maturity assessment and provides actionable recommendations for academia and industry to improve security resilience and support the adoption of tailored, effective maturity models. Full article

Adventure tourism offers unique experiences while presenting environmental concerns related to resource consumption and waste generation. Studies integrating circular economy (CE) principles in adventure tourism, particularly in South Africa, are limited. This research investigates the perspectives of managers and owners of adventure Small, Micro, and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) on challenges hindering the implementation of a CE model and explores how digital technologies can be leveraged to overcome these challenges. The purpose is to gain a deeper understanding of the specific barriers faced by adventure companies in adopting CE principles. The study is rooted in an interpretivist epistemological stance. This study adopts qualitative methodology whereby netnographic tools were used for data collection through 12 online interviews with owners and managers in Mpumalanga. The results present the solutions provided by digital technologies towards advancing resource efficiency in a sustainable and resilient pathway in the adventure tourism industry. By focusing on the perspectives of stakeholders within adventure tourism SMMEs, this research provides valuable insights for a more sustainable and resource-efficient industry in South Africa. The Mpumalanga case study of successful CE implementation and investigation of the environmental impact reduction potential of CE practices in adventure tourism could be beneficial to practitioners and researchers. Full article

This study explores how Myanmar’s sustainable business environment influences entrepreneurs’ performance, focusing on the mediating role of knowledge spillover effects of foreign direct investment (KFDI). Data were gathered from 308 entrepreneurs across micro, small, medium, and large enterprises in Myanmar using online surveys via Google Forms and Microsoft Forms. The analysis employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SPSS 29 and SmartPLS 4. The results reveal that (i) the economic environment exerts a substantial positive influence on entrepreneurs’ performance; (ii) access to credit and the social environment show no discernible impact on entrepreneurs’ performance; (iii) both economic and social environments positively influence KFDI; (iv) access to credit has no effect on KFDI; and (v) KFDI partially mediates the relationship between the economic environment and entrepreneurs’ performance while fully mediating the relationship between the social environment and entrepreneurs’ performance. However, KFDI does not mediate the effect of access to credit on entrepreneurs’ performance. These findings underscore the critical role of sustainable economic and social environments in enhancing entrepreneurs’ performance and attracting foreign firms. Policymakers should prioritize these dimensions of the business environment to foster growth, maximize KFDI, and support long-term entrepreneurial success. This approach will not only ensure the economic vitality of Myanmar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem but also contribute to broader social and environmental sustainability. Full article

In the era of Industry 4.0, additive manufacturing (AM) technology plays a crucial role in optimizing production processes, especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) striving to enhance competitiveness. Selecting the appropriate material for AM is a complex process that requires considering numerous technical, economic, and environmental criteria. Fuzzy logic-based advisory systems can effectively support decision-making in conditions of uncertainty and subjective user preferences. This study presents a developed advisory system model that uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and triangular and trapezoidal membership functions, enabling dynamic adjustment of criterion weights. The results demonstrated that the system achieved 85% alignment with user preferences, confirming its effectiveness. Future research may focus on integrating fuzzy logic with machine learning algorithms to further enhance the system’s precision and flexibility. Full article