Paper Number
2460
Paper Type
Complete Research Paper
Abstract
In the digital age, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), more particularly in the manufacturing sector, may struggle with complex changes as they need to integrate past information technology (IT) with new digital technologies (DT) capabilities. The objective of this study is to explore the digital transformation processes that ensure competitive performance. To do so, two research questions concerning the firm’s relationships between its digital orientation, its operational IT capabilities, and its DT-enabled dynamic capabilities are formulated. Using survey data from 65 Canadian manufacturing SMEs, the study adopts a capability-based approach to illuminate the practices and opportunities of digital transformation in the manufacturing sphere. Its results offer a coherent way to produce “performance effects”, notably in the form of increased organizational agility in manufacturing SMEs. They also provide arguments in the ongoing conversation concerning the complementarity of the IT ‘x’ and DT ‘x’ spaces in contemporary firms.
Recommended Citation
Pelletier, Claudia; L'Écuyer, François; and Raymond, Louis, "Information and Digital Technologies as Drivers of Competitive Performance in Manufacturing SMEs" (2024). ECIS 2024 Proceedings. 17.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2024/track12_digtrans/track12_digtrans/17
Information and Digital Technologies as Drivers of Competitive Performance in Manufacturing SMEs
In the digital age, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), more particularly in the manufacturing sector, may struggle with complex changes as they need to integrate past information technology (IT) with new digital technologies (DT) capabilities. The objective of this study is to explore the digital transformation processes that ensure competitive performance. To do so, two research questions concerning the firm’s relationships between its digital orientation, its operational IT capabilities, and its DT-enabled dynamic capabilities are formulated. Using survey data from 65 Canadian manufacturing SMEs, the study adopts a capability-based approach to illuminate the practices and opportunities of digital transformation in the manufacturing sphere. Its results offer a coherent way to produce “performance effects”, notably in the form of increased organizational agility in manufacturing SMEs. They also provide arguments in the ongoing conversation concerning the complementarity of the IT ‘x’ and DT ‘x’ spaces in contemporary firms.
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