The status quo of digital transformation in China: A pilot study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: As the digital economy evolving as a nation-level strategy of China, firm decision-makers have shown increased interest in implementing digital transformation. However, they lack strategic guidance towards the realization of digital transformation. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide a holistic and comprehensive understanding of the status quo of Chinese firms' digital transformation. METHODS: We fulfill this task by combining qualitative and quantitative methods. First, a conceptual model and an associated survey tool are developed based on an in-depth literature review and field practitioners' opinions. The status quo of digital transformation is decomposed into 5 dimensions. Second, empirical survey data collected from 282 Chinese firms are analyzed and interpreted both in general and across industry types and ownerships. RESULTS: We find that the majority of Chinese firms reach a consensus on the strategic importance of digital transformation and agree on the importance of technological and human resources. In general, firms in the information technology sector scored higher in all five dimensions compared with firms in the manufacturing sector, and private-owned firms scored higher in all five dimensions than state-owned firms. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study set a basis for the development of a maturity model of digital transformation and offers practical insights for Chinese firms to initiate and implement digital transformation projects.

Caracterização de dimensões para avaliação da maturidade digital a partir de uma metodologia colaborativa

“…Entretanto, como a TD se caracteriza por ser um processo abrangente e sistêmico que envolve melhoria contínua em toda organização (Yan et al, 2021), é imprescindível um estudo que possa auxiliar as organizações em um processo de avaliação digital de extrema necessidade para o alcance do crescimento sustentável e do alto nível de competitividade (Yezhebay et al, 2021), definindo parâmetros e elementos imprescindíveis de avaliação (Álvarez Marcos et al, 2019).…”

“…Diante do exposto, definir dimensões como um dos principais parâmetros para o desenvolvimento de MMD que possam auxiliar as organizações no processo de TD (Yan et al, 2021), com o objetivo de fornecer uma imagem integral do nível de maturidade organizacional (Teichert, 2019), é fundamental para o desenvolvimento de uma maturidade construtiva (Gollhardt et al, 2020) por meio de dimensões estruturadas em conformidade com o domínio da organização a ser avaliada.…”

The Role of Digital Transformation, Corporate Culture, and Leadership in Enhancing Corporate Sustainable Performance in the Manufacturing Sector of China

“…Ensuring the survival of the manufacturing sector necessitates its expansion and growth, which can be achieved through sustainable development [4]. As a result, businesses will inevitably confront the issue of achieving sustainable development [5]. The concept of corporate sustainability pertains to an organization's capacity to fulfill its stakeholders' expectations while concurrently advancing and maintaining development throughout its existence [6].…”