Navigating Cultural Barriers: The Role of Socio-Technical Systems in Digital Transformation Readiness in SMEs
Digitalization in the industrial sector has become necessary for both the public and private sectors worldwide to adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. This initiative is articulated in strategic plans designed to foster positive learning environments while minimizing adverse impacts on o...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Ital Publication
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Emerging Science Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ijournalse.org/index.php/ESJ/article/view/2898 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849420482828304384 |
|---|---|
| author | Lilian A/P Anthonysamy Aysa Siddika Nur Riana Aqlily |
| author_facet | Lilian A/P Anthonysamy Aysa Siddika Nur Riana Aqlily |
| author_sort | Lilian A/P Anthonysamy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Digitalization in the industrial sector has become necessary for both the public and private sectors worldwide to adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. This initiative is articulated in strategic plans designed to foster positive learning environments while minimizing adverse impacts on organizations. Although digital maturity has become an organization's top priority, enterprises still lack digital transformation consciousness and means. The interaction between technological transformation and cultural change highlights the necessity of addressing the resistance during the transition. Utilizing the socio-technical system theory, this study investigates the impact of organizational culture on the readiness for digital transformation in SME enterprises in Malaysia. The study comprises responses from 176 employees across various sectors of SMEs in Malaysia. A quantitative data analysis was conducted by employing the PLS method. The study found that technology, processes, customers, and partners positively impact the organization's digital transformation readiness (DTR). However, it was found that cultural factors within an organization act as a barrier to progress on the DTR. The present study provides insights by identifying critical factors in the digitalization process to enhance operations and business value to achieve sustainable development and improve quality of life through the digital economy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e2cfc33ff47c48fab620e29af244a556 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2610-9182 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Ital Publication |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emerging Science Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-e2cfc33ff47c48fab620e29af244a5562025-08-20T03:31:45ZengItal PublicationEmerging Science Journal2610-91822025-06-01931231124610.28991/ESJ-2025-09-03-062628Navigating Cultural Barriers: The Role of Socio-Technical Systems in Digital Transformation Readiness in SMEsLilian A/P Anthonysamy0Aysa Siddika1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7407-5150Nur Riana Aqlily2Centre for Management and Marketing Innovation (CMMI), COE for Business Innovation and Communication, Faculty of Management, Multimedia University, CyberjayaCentre for Management and Marketing Innovation (CMMI), COE for Business Innovation and Communication, Faculty of Management, Multimedia University, CyberjayaDewadewi Empire EnterpriseDigitalization in the industrial sector has become necessary for both the public and private sectors worldwide to adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. This initiative is articulated in strategic plans designed to foster positive learning environments while minimizing adverse impacts on organizations. Although digital maturity has become an organization's top priority, enterprises still lack digital transformation consciousness and means. The interaction between technological transformation and cultural change highlights the necessity of addressing the resistance during the transition. Utilizing the socio-technical system theory, this study investigates the impact of organizational culture on the readiness for digital transformation in SME enterprises in Malaysia. The study comprises responses from 176 employees across various sectors of SMEs in Malaysia. A quantitative data analysis was conducted by employing the PLS method. The study found that technology, processes, customers, and partners positively impact the organization's digital transformation readiness (DTR). However, it was found that cultural factors within an organization act as a barrier to progress on the DTR. The present study provides insights by identifying critical factors in the digitalization process to enhance operations and business value to achieve sustainable development and improve quality of life through the digital economy.https://ijournalse.org/index.php/ESJ/article/view/2898digital transformation readinessorganizational culturesocio-technical system theorysmes |
| spellingShingle | Lilian A/P Anthonysamy Aysa Siddika Nur Riana Aqlily Navigating Cultural Barriers: The Role of Socio-Technical Systems in Digital Transformation Readiness in SMEs Emerging Science Journal digital transformation readiness organizational culture socio-technical system theory smes |
| title | Navigating Cultural Barriers: The Role of Socio-Technical Systems in Digital Transformation Readiness in SMEs |
| title_full | Navigating Cultural Barriers: The Role of Socio-Technical Systems in Digital Transformation Readiness in SMEs |
| title_fullStr | Navigating Cultural Barriers: The Role of Socio-Technical Systems in Digital Transformation Readiness in SMEs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Navigating Cultural Barriers: The Role of Socio-Technical Systems in Digital Transformation Readiness in SMEs |
| title_short | Navigating Cultural Barriers: The Role of Socio-Technical Systems in Digital Transformation Readiness in SMEs |
| title_sort | navigating cultural barriers the role of socio technical systems in digital transformation readiness in smes |
| topic | digital transformation readiness organizational culture socio-technical system theory smes |
| url | https://ijournalse.org/index.php/ESJ/article/view/2898 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lilianapanthonysamy navigatingculturalbarrierstheroleofsociotechnicalsystemsindigitaltransformationreadinessinsmes AT aysasiddika navigatingculturalbarrierstheroleofsociotechnicalsystemsindigitaltransformationreadinessinsmes AT nurrianaaqlily navigatingculturalbarrierstheroleofsociotechnicalsystemsindigitaltransformationreadinessinsmes |