Contextualizing the Digital Transformation for SMEs - Insights from a Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Digital transformation (DT) is increasingly vital for organizations navigating the dynamic digital landscape. While its effective management is shaped by its context, the exploration of DT within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remains underresearched. This study aims to address this gap by examining how SMEs manage DT and identifying the idiosyncrasies of DT in the context of SMEs. The research focuses on the question: How does digital transformation unfold in the context of SMEs? The study makes three significant contributions: First, it contextualizes DT specifically for SMEs. Second, it elaborates on questions for further research to better understand DT in the context of SMEs. Third, we highlight how SMEs' focus on their traditional business affects DT endeavors. Our contribution underscores the necessity for tailored DT approaches in SMEs and provides insights for future research to better understand DT in this specific organizational context.