Uncovering Patterns in Sustainable Digital Transformation of SMEs in an Emerging Market

Călin-Adrian Comes (), Valentina Vasile, Daniel Ștefan, Liviu Ciucan-Rusu, Maria-Alexandra Poptamas (), Mihai Timuș, Elena Bunduchi, Paula Pop-Nistor and Anamari-Beatrice Ștefan
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Călin-Adrian Comes: Center for Law, Economics and Business Studies, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Gheorghe Marinescu, 38, 540 139 Tirgu-Mures, Romania
Valentina Vasile: Institute of National Economy, Romanian Academy, Casa Academiei, Calea 13 Septembrie 13, Sector 5, 050 711 Bucharest, Romania
Daniel Ștefan: Center for Law, Economics and Business Studies, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Gheorghe Marinescu, 38, 540 139 Tirgu-Mures, Romania
Liviu Ciucan-Rusu: Center for Law, Economics and Business Studies, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Gheorghe Marinescu, 38, 540 139 Tirgu-Mures, Romania
Maria-Alexandra Poptamas: Center for Law, Economics and Business Studies, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Gheorghe Marinescu, 38, 540 139 Tirgu-Mures, Romania
Mihai Timuș: Center for Law, Economics and Business Studies, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Gheorghe Marinescu, 38, 540 139 Tirgu-Mures, Romania
Elena Bunduchi: Center for Law, Economics and Business Studies, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Gheorghe Marinescu, 38, 540 139 Tirgu-Mures, Romania
Paula Pop-Nistor: Center for Law, Economics and Business Studies, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Gheorghe Marinescu, 38, 540 139 Tirgu-Mures, Romania
Anamari-Beatrice Ștefan: Center for Law, Economics and Business Studies, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, Gheorghe Marinescu, 38, 540 139 Tirgu-Mures, Romania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: Facing many challenges and the pressure to achieve sustainable development through digitalization, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should increase their consumption of digital technologies. SMEs are part of the engine of emerging economies, making a significant contribution to economic development. Using Rossmann’s Digital Transformation Maturity Index and a survey-based dataset, the purpose of this paper is to uncover key associations between different dimensions that define digital transformation. Through association rules mining (ARM), our results show that even when resources are constrained, SMEs in central Romania—Transylvania—make efforts to increase human resources competencies to drive digital transformation. Furthermore, we identified that the firms are in a transition stage in terms of digital transformation. Thus, although digital initiatives are considered at the firm level, they are not fully integrated into leadership and human resources.

Keywords: digital consumption; digital transformation; digital technologies; digital maturity model; emerging economy; association rules mining (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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