Digital Transformation in SMEs and Boundary Spanners: A Socio-Technical Analysis of Transversality

Transformation digitale des PME et acteurs de frontière: une analyse socio-technique de la transversalité

Thibaut Metailler () and Claude Yugma
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Thibaut Metailler: Mines Saint-Étienne MSE - École des Mines de Saint-Étienne - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris], COACTIS - COnception de l'ACTIon en Situation - UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2 - UJM - Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne - UJM EPE - Université Jean Monnet (EPSCPE), FAYOL-ENSMSE - Institut Henri Fayol - Mines Saint-Étienne MSE - École des Mines de Saint-Étienne - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris], FAYOL-ENSMSE - Département Management responsable et innovation - ENSM ST-ETIENNE - Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de St Etienne - Institut Henri Fayol
Claude Yugma: LIMOS - Laboratoire d'Informatique, de Modélisation et d'Optimisation des Systèmes - ENSM ST-ETIENNE - Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de St Etienne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UCA - Université Clermont Auvergne - INP Clermont Auvergne - Institut national polytechnique Clermont Auvergne - UCA - Université Clermont Auvergne, Mines Saint-Étienne MSE - École des Mines de Saint-Étienne - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris]

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Abstract: Digital transformation (DT) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is widely described as a socio-technical process involving technologies, organizational structures, and multiple actors. However, the concrete mechanisms through which boundary actors contribute to strategic alignment and the cross-functionality of DT remain poorly documented. This article adopts an exploratory and inductive qualitative approach based on two in-depth case studies of French industrial SMEs. The analysis highlights that DT primarily unfolds through situated functional trajectories, oriented by concrete business needs and supported by technology. While executives, CIOs, and managers do perform boundary-spanning roles, their practices remain largely siloed. The findings show that the absence of formalized crossfunctionality does not necessarily hinder performance, thereby calling into question the normative nature of transversal strategic alignment in DT within SMEs.

Keywords: digital transformation; SMEs; boundary spanners; transversality; strategic alignment; acteurs de frontière; alignement stratégique; transversalité; PME; Transformation digitale (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-06-20
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Published in 31e Conférence de l’Association Information et Management, Jun 2026, Neuchâtel, Suisse

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05642891

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