Organizational readiness for the digital transformation: a case study research

The world is changing profoundly and it has gone from the industrial age to the era of intelligent and connected products with consequences both in organizations and society. The aim of this research work is to formulate a framework that explains resources, capabilities and management choices necessary to respond to the new environment. The scope is on small and medium sized established companies. The research methodology is based on literature review and an in-depth case study based on three enterprises. The framework describes (a) external forces in the context of emergent technologies; (b) adequate strategies arising from a value chain analysis; (c) resources and capabilities of critical importance. The framework contributes to the comprehension of how small and medium size companies respond to the digital transformation process.