Digitalization in Finnish technology non-native SMEs : guidelines for SMEs in digital consulting provided by the DigiStep project
Markova, Mariia (2023)
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023052915160
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023052915160
Tiivistelmä
The transition to Industry 4.0 and emerging digitalization has changed the competitive landscape for all companies. Although European SMEs undertake active measures to implement digital tools to enhance their competitiveness, smaller SMEs with less than 50 employees and that do not have technology as the basis of the business tend to digitalize slower than bigger companies.
SMEs lead highly diverse types of activity. Their employees and managers belong to different age groups and possess various backgrounds, which causes different attitudes to digitalization and differentiated levels of awareness about its benefits. Moreover, SMEs are characterized by specific decision-making processes, limitations in financial and human resources, and a diversity of skills inside the companies.
The researcher evaluated the current state of digitalization in Finnish SMEs and reviewed and analyzed some existing approaches to digitalization. Then, following the qualitative methodology and induction as the approach to theory development, the researcher conducted a literature review and empirical research on the gaps and challenges that might be addressed by means of digital consulting services.
The guidelines that facilitate the digital consulting process for SMEs were produced as the outcome of the thesis. They are developed based on the data and criteria collected at the stage of empirical research.
SMEs lead highly diverse types of activity. Their employees and managers belong to different age groups and possess various backgrounds, which causes different attitudes to digitalization and differentiated levels of awareness about its benefits. Moreover, SMEs are characterized by specific decision-making processes, limitations in financial and human resources, and a diversity of skills inside the companies.
The researcher evaluated the current state of digitalization in Finnish SMEs and reviewed and analyzed some existing approaches to digitalization. Then, following the qualitative methodology and induction as the approach to theory development, the researcher conducted a literature review and empirical research on the gaps and challenges that might be addressed by means of digital consulting services.
The guidelines that facilitate the digital consulting process for SMEs were produced as the outcome of the thesis. They are developed based on the data and criteria collected at the stage of empirical research.