Beyond Technology: SME Strategic Repositioning in Digital Ecosystems

Ana Alexandra Olariu, Simona Catalina Stefan (), Andreea Breazu, Corina-Elena Mircioiu and Mircea Stelian Draghici
Additional contact information
Ana Alexandra Olariu: Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania
Simona Catalina Stefan: Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania
Andreea Breazu: Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania; Academy of Romanian Scientists, Romania
Corina-Elena Mircioiu: Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania
Mircea Stelian Draghici: Dentirad Hospital, Plopeni, Romania; Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania

The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, 2026, vol. 28, issue 72, 431

Abstract: Digital transformation is a disruptive force that compels SMEs to fundamentally reconfigure their business models to remain competitive. This research analyses the impact of digitalisation factors, namely the digital skills of the staff, the digital transformation strategy, and the digital methods, means, and tools, on the strategic position of SMEs, while exploring the mechanisms that arise. This study used a mixed research methodology, combining structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with artificial neural network (ANN) analysis, based on a survey with 281 respondents from Romania. The PLS-SEM results confirm the influence of digitalisation on strategic performance, especially through the optimisation of organisational processes and the strengthening of the relationship with customers. The ANN analysis complements these findings, capturing nonlinear relationships and identifying the relationship with customers as the most important predictor of strategic success. Valuable insights are thus offered for SME management, demonstrating that the strategic value of technology is conditioned by its functional integration into workflows and interaction with market actors.

Keywords: Digital transformation; SMEs; strategic position; artificial neural networks (ANN); PLS-SEM. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L26 M15 O32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.amfiteatrueconomic.ro/temp/Article_3531.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aes:amfeco:v:28:y:2026:i:72:p:431

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal from Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Valentin Dumitru ().