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<p>This paper combines the DEA-Malmquist index model and the fsQCA method, and applies them together in studying the exploration of digital transformation paths of small and medium-sized enterprises. First, the data of a traditional company from 2018 to 2022 is selected as the initial research sample, and the data of the sample enterprise is organized. Then, according to the data type of each condition and result, the data were converted into affiliation scores by applying the direct calibration method. The calibrated data were entered into the fsQCA 3.0 software for the necessary conditions test, and the sufficiency antecedent group state analysis was performed for high-level digital transformation. Finally, the performance of enterprises after digital transformation was analyzed in terms of 2 aspects: profitability and operational capacity. The results show that there are 4 paths of high-level digital transformation for SMEs: aspiring firm-led, aspiring government-led, aspiring firm-against-against-against-government synergistic and aspiring firm-against-efficient-market synergistic. The operating margin of transformed enterprises is significantly higher than that of non-transformed and the industry average, with a minimum value of 6.51% in 2021, which is much higher than that of non-transformed. The operating cycle of pre-transformation firms stays at 100-240 days in 2018-2022, which is significantly higher than the level of 80-100 days in the post-transformation period.</p>
</abstract>

This paper combines the DEA-Malmquist index model and the fsQCA method, and applies them together in studying the exploration of digital transformation paths of small and medium-sized enterprises. First, the data of a traditional company from 2018 to 2022 is selected as the initial research sample, and the data of the sample enterprise is organized. Then, according to the data type of each condition and result, the data were converted into affiliation scores by applying the direct calibration method. The calibrated data were entered into the fsQCA 3.0 software for the necessary conditions test, and the sufficiency antecedent group state analysis was performed for high-level digital transformation. Finally, the performance of enterprises after digital transformation was analyzed in terms of 2 aspects: profitability and operational capacity. The results show that there are 4 paths of high-level digital transformation for SMEs: aspiring firm-led, aspiring government-led, aspiring firm-against-against-against-government synergistic and aspiring firm-against-efficient-market synergistic. The operating margin of transformed enterprises is significantly higher than that of non-transformed and the industry average, with a minimum value of 6.51% in 2021, which is much higher than that of non-transformed. The operating cycle of pre-transformation firms stays at 100-240 days in 2018-2022, which is significantly higher than the level of 80-100 days in the post-transformation period.

Exploring the Digital Transformation Path of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises under the fsQCA Approach for Sustainable Competitive Advantage

Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This paper combines the DEA-Malmquist index model and the fsQCA method, and applies them together in studying the exploration of digital transformation paths...

Exploring the Digital Transformation Path of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises under the fsQCA Approach for Sustainable Competitive Advantage

Published Online: Feb 26, 2024

Page range: -

Received: Jan 02, 2024

Accepted: Jan 11, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amns-2024-0324

Keywords
fsQCA methodology, DEA-Malmquist, Group analysis, Digital transformation, Financial data

© 2024 Huie Lu, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Exploring the Digital Transformation Path of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises under the fsQCA Approach for Sustainable Competitive Advantage

Published Online: Feb 26, 2024

Page range: -

Received: Jan 02, 2024

Accepted: Jan 11, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amns-2024-0324

KeywordsfsQCA methodology, DEA-Malmquist, Group analysis, Digital transformation, Financial data

© 2024 Huie Lu, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
fsQCA methodology, DEA-Malmquist, Group analysis, Digital transformation, Financial data