Management and sustenance of digital transformations in the Irish microbusiness sector: examining the key role of microbusiness owner-manager

Anuragini Shirish (anuragini.shirish@imt-bs.eu), Shirish Srivastava and Niki Panteli
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Anuragini Shirish: LITEM - Laboratoire en Innovation, Technologies, Economie et Management (EA 7363) - UEVE - Université d'Évry-Val-d'Essonne - Université Paris-Saclay - IMT-BS - Institut Mines-Télécom Business School - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris], IMT-BS - TIM - Département Technologies, Information & Management - TEM - Télécom Ecole de Management - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IMT-BS - Institut Mines-Télécom Business School - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris], Smart BIS - Smart Business Information Systems - IMT-BS - Institut Mines-Télécom Business School - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris]
Shirish Srivastava: HEC Paris - Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales
Niki Panteli: RHUL - Royal Holloway [University of London], NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

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Abstract: Despite the economic and societal significance of microbusinesses (MBs), digital transformation (DT) efforts in the MB sector have been rather sporadic. Further, prior DT studies have primarily examined large- and mid-sized organisations, leaving a perceptible void in the literature. In this paper, we leverage the unique context of MBs and recognise the key role of microbusiness owner-managers (MBOMs) for the management and sustenance of DT initiatives. Specifically, we theorise the influence of MBOMs' DT readiness in terms of their growth and technology mindsets contributing to their DT learning resources and processes. Drawing on qualitative data from a series of structured interviews and focus groups with MBOMs and other key stakeholders in the Irish MB digital ecosystem, we identify three MBOM digital transformer archetypes comprising unique configurations of MBOMs' growth and technology mindsets, namely: champion digital transformers, emerging digital transformers, and aspiring digital transformers. For each of these archetypes, we explore the different learning capabilities and mechanisms through which MBOMs manage and sustain their digital transformation efforts. Our findings offer theoretical contributions to the fields of digital transformation in microbusinesses, digital leadership, and digital capabilities. Our study also has significant implications for policy and practice.

Keywords: Digital transformation; Mindset; Microbusiness; Readiness; Learning; Digital resilience; Digital inclusion policy; Digital transformation practices; Owner-manager; Sustainable Development Goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Published in European Journal of Information Systems, 2023, Managing and Sustaining Digital Transformations, 32 (3), pp.409-433. ⟨10.1080/0960085X.2023.2166431⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03991129

DOI: 10.1080/0960085X.2023.2166431

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