Digital Technologies 4.0 in Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Industries: Cases of the Central Region of Argentina and the Biobio Region of Chile

Francisco Gatica-Neira, Mario Ramos-Maldonado, Rubén Andrés Ascua, Hernán Revale and Valentina Fernández

SAGE Open, 2024, vol. 14, issue 2, 21582440241249285

Abstract: The Fourth Industrial Revolution has built upon the lessons learned from Covid-19 and has emphasized the urgent need for digital transformation in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Latin America. This study aims to identify the factors that can explain the varying degrees of adoption of digital technologies 4.0 (DT 4.0). The research analyzes the results of surveys conducted among 35 companies located in the Central Region of Argentina and the Biobio Region of Chile. By utilizing the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) model of adoption and employing data science tools, such as cluster analysis (K-means) and decision trees (J48), the study parameterizes the different responses and generates valuable insights. Our work provides a complementary view to existing studies, analyzing the key factors in the adoption of DT 4.0 in a group of SMEs located in regions, not national capitals, of two Latin American countries with different growth models. The results highlight the significance of business leaders possessing knowledge of DT 4.0, the importance of having specialized human capital, and the need for an organizational culture that embraces innovation. Public policy should focus on transforming business leadership and organizational dynamics to stimulate digital transformation. JEL Classification: O330, O140, O570

Keywords: technological adoption; digital technologies 4.0; Central Argentina Region; Biobio Region; SMEs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:sagope:v:14:y:2024:i:2:p:21582440241249285

DOI: 10.1177/21582440241249285

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