Entrepreneurs as strategic transformation managers: Exploring micro-foundations of digital transformation in small and medium internationalisers

Vahid Jafari-Sadeghi*, Hannan Amoozad Mahdiraji, Gazi Mahabubul Alam, Alberto Mazzoleni

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
105 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper is set to explore the role of individual-level behaviours and actions in the digital transformation of international SMEs. This is particularly important since little is known regarding the extent to which entrepreneurs and decision-makers manage the digitalisation process. Thus, building on the theory of planned behaviour, this research focuses on individual-level micro-foundations in the digital transformation of small and medium internationalisers. The paper benefits from a mixed-method synthesis. First, through a systematic review of literature, we identified twenty-seven factors in four inclusive categories. Then, they have been narrowed down to the top seven individual-level micro-foundations, using Intuitionistic Fuzzy Delphi based on Normalised Hamming Distance. Subsequently, Intuitionistic Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory analysis is applied to disentangle the causality and effectuality as well as conceptual framework to depict their interrelationships. Our findings contribute to the digital transformation research by developing six prepositions that explore the relationships between SMEs’ micro-foundations at the individual level.

Original languageEnglish
Article number113287
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Business Research
Volume154
Early online date12 Sept 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Gazi Mahabubul Alam , PhD, FRSA is an internationally recognised Public Policy Analyst with an especial focus to Higher Education. Countries of his work experience include Malaysia, Bangladesh, UK and the USA. He works for both institute of Higher Education and Partner for Development. Before he moved to the University Putra Malaysia, he was a professor at the University of Malaya and East West University. Further to his postgraduate degree in Business Administration, Alam acquired MA in International Education and Development from the University of Sussex and a PhD from the University of Nottingham. He received a distinguished fellowship from the Royal Society of Arts. He has published a number of papers and they received a notable amount of citation in the Scopus and ISI indexed. His paper on private Higher Education received best citation award from the Web of Science.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s)

Keywords

  • Digital transformation
  • International entrepreneurs
  • Micro-foundations
  • Small internationalisers
  • SMEs
  • Theory of Planned Behaviour

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Marketing

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