1424-Texto Do Artigo-2428-2-10-20210909
1424-Texto Do Artigo-2428-2-10-20210909
1424-Texto Do Artigo-2428-2-10-20210909
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Nguyen Thanh Hai • 417
transformation according to the Resource-based view (RBV) (JAY, 1991; GRANT, 1991) will
provide a multi-dimensional view of the process. digital transformation of SMEs. According to
this theory, a firm obtains a competitive advantage through a combination of valuable,
scarce, inimitable and irreplaceable resources and capabilities. Based on the theory of
resources, we develop research hypotheses related to the relationship of three main
resources in SMEs, namely: IT barriers, human barriers, and strategic barriers.
Human barrier
Regarding the human barriers to digital transformation of SMEs, it mainly refers to issues
related to the knowledge and skills of human resources in these enterprises. Nguyen et al.
(2015) argue that one of the biggest barriers to digital transformation in SMEs is the lack of
human resources with the knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of the digital
transformation process. Basically, digital transformation significantly increases the complexity
and abstraction of the problems to be solved, thereby requiring digital skills in the human
resources in these enterprises.
Specifically, human resources in these enterprises need to have skills in developing, applying
and integrating new and existing IT systems, as well as skills in business, finance, project
management, engineering Contract negotiation and data integration skills. In addition to the
skill requirements, the human resources in SMEs also need to be fully equipped with
technical, mechatronics and IT knowledge. This enables the ability to use digital technology
effectively, which can be seen as a prerequisite for accelerating digital transformation in
SMEs. In addition, another human-related barrier that SMEs are facing in digital
transformation is limited knowledge and senior management skills. Digital transformation
projects in these enterprises often fail due to a lack of senior management teams with the
necessary knowledge and skills (ELLER et al., 2020).
Thus, the level of human resources is an important factor to promote and ensure the success
of the digital transformation process in SMEs. In addition to issues related to knowledge and
skills, some researchers believe that the level of human resources for digital transformation in
SMEs also includes the ability to share knowledge between different departments. in the
enterprise as well as the level of employee participation in implementing digital
transformation (NGUYEN et al., 2015). Tackling human barriers while taking full advantage of
flexibility will enable SME digital transformation to become easier and ensure solid success.
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• 418 Digital transformation barriers for small and medium enterprises in Vietnam today
On the basis of the above arguments, the paper proposes the second research hypothesis:
Hypothesis 2: Human resource qualifications have a positive impact on digital transformation
in SMEs.
Strategic barrier
Digital transformation of SME business processes and organizational structure requires a
clear and coherent digital strategy (KANE et al., 2015). Basically, for SMEs, digital strategy is
not only related to operations, purchasing and marketing, but also associated with
restructuring the business model (BOUNCKEN et al., 2019). Digital business strategy involves
transforming products and services combined with digital technology based on a business-
centric perspective. This strategy includes value creation, value capture mechanism, value
proposition, digital technology, organizational change as well as external and internal SME
dynamics.
The basic content of the digital business strategy in SMEs includes a key issue such as:
fundamental transformation of business processes or business models (e.g. development of
new business lines); improve customer experience and engagement; improve business
innovation; improve business decision making… To build a digital business strategy, SMEs
need to ensure four main aspects, which are: (1) using digital technology, (2) transforming
manufacturing mechanism values, (3) organizational change, and (4) financial planning
(GIOIA et al., 2013). Failure to develop a digital business strategy will lead to inaccurate
decisions and cause waste of resources in businesses.
A participatory and shared digital business strategy among organizational members can
facilitate digital transformation in SMEs. However, building a digital strategy is not a simple
process that is full of difficulties and challenges for SMEs. It is important for owners and
managers to consider conflict in their strategic priorities (GIOIA et al., 2013). Unmet
expectations and behaviors that are inconsistent with the business's digital transformation
goals can lead to conflicts among employees and create barriers to implementing digital
business strategies (BOUNCKEN et al., 2019).
On the basis of the above arguments, the paper proposes the third research hypothesis:
Hypothesis 3: Digital business strategy has a positive impact on digital transformation in
SMEs. Relation between digital transformation and business results of SMEs The OECD
(2017) argues that digital transformation brings many benefits to SMEs, allowing them to
expand their markets, access financial resources more widely, and enhance cooperation and
learning. In addition, digital transformation also helps SMEs to have easier access to
advanced technology, develop powerful products, and build a team of highly qualified
personnel. According to Verhoef et al (2021), thanks to digital transformation, SMEs can
apply digital technology to optimize existing business processes through improving the
efficiency of coordination between processes or create additional value for customers based
on improving user experience.
Bley et al. (2016) assert that building and implementing digital business processes increases
efficiency and reduces costs for SMEs. These scholars also point out that supplier- and
customer-focused digital transformation contributes to enhancing businesses' core
competencies and adoption of e-procurement systems, thereby having a positive impact. to
business results (ELLER et al., 2020).
On the basis of the above arguments, the paper proposes the fourth research hypothesis:
Hypothesis 4: Digital transformation has a positive impact on business results of SMEs.
METHODOLOGY
To test the research hypotheses, the author conducts research and analyzes documents
including books, newspapers, magazines, reports, domestic and foreign studies related to
digital transformation barriers. for SMEs in Vietnam today. Some of the research focus issues
are: the theoretical perspective of resources for SME's digital transformation, IT barriers,
human barriers, strategic barriers, the relationship between digital transformation and
business results of SMEs… The data is carefully collected and classified into specific contents
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Nguyen Thanh Hai • 419
to serve the research process. From there, the author builds a theoretical basis with the
following research scale:
Table 1. Research scale set
No Variables Sign Authors
1 IT infrastructure of SMEs CNTT Ross & Blumenstein
IT facilities (machines, networks) CNTT1 (2015); Bouncken et al
Mobile technology CNTT2 (2019); Eller et al (2020)
Databases and tools for collection and analysis CNTT3
Application of cloud computing technology, AI CNTT4
2 Qualifications of human resources of SMEs NNL Verhoef et al (2021);
Digital knowledge of human resources NNL1 Nguyen et al (2015);
Digital skills of human resources NNL2 Eller et al (2020)
Ability to share and collaborate by digital technology NNL3
Employee involvement in digital transformation NNL4
3 SME business strategy CLKD Kane et al (2015);
The relevance of business quality to the market CLKD1 Bouncken et al (2019)
Feasibility of CLKD in digital context CLKD2
Degree of digitization compared to the quality of competitors CLKD3
Flexibility of CLKD in the digital context CLKD4
RESULTS
The results of the SEM model analysis are as shown in the table and figure below. The
obtained conformity indexes (CMIN/DF = 1.452; IFI = 0.979; TLI rho2 = 0.975; CFI = 0.979;
RMSEA = 0.045; PCLOSE = 0.744) all gave standard values, allowing to confirm that the SEM
model was successful. confidence level.
According to the SEM model results, at the 95% confidence level, IT infrastructure (IT
variable) has a positive impact on the digital transformation (CST variable) of SMEs with the
coefficients of Estimate = 0.291 and Sig. = 0.000. Thus, hypothesis H1 is confirmed. This
result corroborates the role of IT infrastructure in the digital transformation of SMEs. For SMEs
to successfully implement digital transformation, appropriate IT infrastructure is required.
Currently, investment in IT infrastructure has contributed to strongly promoting the digital
transformation process of SMEs in Vietnam. Businesses tend to invest heavily in improving
online payment technology, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
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Nguyen Thanh Hai • 421
This technology is especially useful for SMEs in the retail sector with a large customer base. In
addition, SMEs are also investing in automation and blockchain, to reduce labor-intensive
operations such as in manufacturing, warehousing, and transportation.
However, according to Cisco's 2019 report, SMEs in Vietnam are facing the barrier of lack of
a strong enough IT platform to enable digital transformation, accounting for 16.7%.
Vietnamese SMEs are still behind the world in terms of technology and have not yet mastered
the core technologies of digital transformation and basic foundation systems. Therefore,
digital transformation at these enterprises is still using technologies available in the world.
Regarding the level of human resources (variable human resources) of SMEs, the SEM results
show that, at the 95% confidence level, this variable positively affects the degree of
transformation (the variable variable) of SMEs with the Estimate = 0.080 and Sig. = 0.042.
Thus, hypothesis H2 is confirmed correctly, The results confirm the importance of human
resource quality, especially in IT, in the current digital transformation context. Vietnamese
SMEs are increasingly aware of the key role of human resources in digital transformation
operations. Therefore, in recent years, businesses have actively cultivated necessary skills for
their human resources, especially technology mastery skills, creative capacity and the ability
to quickly adapt to the environment. constantly changing technology field; change mindset
and culture to join together and be determined towards the goal of digital transformation. As
a result, the digital transformation process at SMEs has made significant progress.
However, according to a report by Cisco in 2019, in Vietnam, SMEs are facing a barrier of lack
of digital skills and human resources (17%) in the digital transformation process. This is also
reflected in the Vietnam E-commerce Index Report 2020. Specifically, the percentage of
Vietnamese enterprises that have difficulty recruiting skilled workers in e-commerce and
information technology in Vietnam. relatively high level, only about 30% of enterprises can
meet this demand for human resources. On average, each year Vietnam lacks about 90,000
human resources to develop the digital economy and digital society because the domestic
information technology training programs have not yet met the demand. Therefore, in the
coming time, businesses need to be more proactive in improving human resources to
promote the success of the digital transformation process.
Regarding the impact of business strategy (variable quality), data from the analysis of SEM
models show that this variable positively affects the degree of transformation (collateral
variable) of SMEs, at the 95% confidence level, with the system. Estimate = 0.111 and Sig. =
0.007. Thus, hypothesis H3 is confirmed. This result shows that the digital transformation
process in SMEs is bound by business strategy. A remarkable result is the existence of a
negative relationship between two variables of business quality and IT, showing that the
better the IT infrastructure, the lower the role of business quality in SMEs and vice versa.
Currently, Vietnamese SMEs are gradually changing from traditional business strategies to
digital business strategies, focusing on applying modern technologies and new business
processes to create new products and services or improve Improve existing products and
services, bring them to market faster, at lower costs, and in more innovative ways. In addition,
in some enterprises, IT has effectively implemented a few activities related to the business
strategy of enterprises such as supporting planning, monitoring implementation and
evaluating strategy...
However, the current business strategy is also one of the major barriers to the digital
transformation of Vietnamese SMEs. Because the development and implementation of this
strategy in SMEs is greatly influenced by the perception of managers. In many SMEs today,
the implementation of a business strategy with a budget for digital transformation is still
short-term. This has somewhat reduced the positive impact of business strategies on the
digital transformation process of businesses.
Regarding the role of digital transformation (convertible variable) in SMEs, the results show a
positive impact of this variable on business results (business results variable) of SMEs, at the
95% confidence level, with the Estimate = 0.369 and Sig. = 0.000. Thus, hypothesis H4 is
confirmed. This result corroborates the important and urgent role of digital transformation in
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• 422 Digital transformation barriers for small and medium enterprises in Vietnam today
the production and business activities of SMEs in the context of Industry 4.0 and the current
epidemic crisis.
With the advantage of small scale and few employees, Vietnamese SMEs have more
favorable conditions than large enterprises with cumbersome apparatus in applying digital
transformation to change their operating and production systems. in the enterprise. In
addition, the application of digital transformation has contributed to optimizing operations,
increasing efficiency, reducing costs, increasing competitiveness, improving governance and
business models; increase experience, connect customer relationships... As a result, digital
transformation has been positively impacting the business results of Vietnamese SMEs in
three main aspects, which are financial results, market results. market (market share), and
strategic outcomes (objectives).
According to the report "Digital Development Index of SMEs in Asia - Pacific" by Cisco, in
2020, up to 72% of SMEs in Vietnam are looking to digital transformation to bring new
products and services. to the market. This is considered a significant increase compared to
2019 (32%). Also according to this report, the digital transformation of SMEs in Vietnam is
predicted to contribute between $24-30 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024 and
contribute to economic recovery. post-Covid-19 pandemic.
DISCUSSION
On the basis of research results, the study proposes a number of solutions and
recommendations to SMEs, business associations and state agencies, specifically as follows:
• Proposing solutions for SMEs for successful digital transformation
For successful digital transformation, SMEs need to actively invest resources in developing
high-quality IT infrastructure to promote the digital transformation process. Businesses also
need to strengthen their digital mindset and build a digital transformation schedule.
Connecting digital technologies in the transformation process is essential. In addition, human
resources play an important role in the digital transformation process, so SMEs need to have
a plan to attract, train and retain talents, especially employees with skills and knowledge in
digital transformation. change number. In addition, businesses also need to actively train
digital skills, provide financial resources for human resource development. SMEs can
consider changing the operating model of their business through the combination of human
resources and digital resources. This is the premise that allows businesses to implement
digital transformation more easily and effectively.
In addition, SMEs need to focus on building and implementing digital business strategies to
ensure successful digital transformation. The change from a traditional business strategy to a
digital business strategy requires the participation of the entire staff in the enterprise,
focusing on some important contents of the digital business strategy such as: basic business
processes, business model transformation; enhance customer experience and engagement;
… Another key solution is that businesses need to have a plan to implement digital
transformation clearly, in each specific stage in order to have the right investment in each
stage, with a specific assessment as follows. each stage to ensure the success of digital
transformation.
• Proposals to business associations:
To promote the success of digital transformation in SMEs in Vietnam today, the role of
business associations is very important. In the coming time, associations need to have a plan
to support and promote digital transformation in SMEs in each specific period, in terms of IT
infrastructure, human resources... Especially, business associations Businesses need to
actively create an ecosystem of services and products with long-term sustainable value,
connecting SMEs in the digital transformation process. This will create opportunities for
Vietnamese SMEs to have a connection during the digital transformation process to create
synergy, support businesses to develop and grow, and overcome difficulties and barriers of
number conversion.
• Proposing recommendations to state agencies on supporting SMEs in digital
transformation:
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Nguyen Thanh Hai • 423
To ensure the success of digital transformation in SMEs, the support of state agencies is
important. The government needs to closely accompany the digital transformation process of
SMEs through specific supporting mechanisms and policies to meet the practical
requirements of digital transformation of SMEs. In addition, the Government should promote
simplification and reduction of business conditions, create a favorable and equal business
environment for all economic sectors, and support the development of SMEs; at the same
time creating favorable conditions in terms of capital, technology, etc., so that these
enterprises can be bolder when entering the digital transformation process. In the context of
the Covid-19 epidemic, the Government needs to deploy credit packages to support SMEs
to overcome difficulties, thereby promoting these businesses to participate strongly in digital
transformation. In addition, relevant ministries and sectors should actively coordinate with
domestic and foreign agencies to implement projects to support businesses in digital
transformation to contribute to promoting the process of digital transformation in SMEs. This
should focus on raising awareness about digital transformation; improve the quality of
resources for digital transformation...
CONCLUSION
The article studies theoretical and practical issues related to digital transformation barriers for
SMEs in Vietnam today. The author approaches from the perspective of resource theory to
study the digital transformation of SMEs, and at the same time clarifies the digital
transformation barriers of this group of businesses. On that basis, the author develops
research hypotheses about the relationship between enterprise resources and digital
transformation of SMEs as well as the relationship between digital transformation and
business results of these enterprises.
Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, survey surveys were conducted mainly via email
(email) and phone for SMEs in Vietnam, to collect data for research. Then, the SEM network
model is used to analyze the collected data to clarify the above relationships. Research
results show that three main resources (IT infrastructure, people and business strategy) have
a positive impact on the digital transformation of SMEs; However, these factors are also
barriers to enterprises' digital transformation. In addition, the role of digital transformation is
also confirmed, having a positive impact on business results of SMEs.
From there, the article proposes a number of solutions to SMEs, business associations and
state agencies to ensure successful digital transformation. In particular, SMEs need to actively
invest resources in developing high-quality IT infrastructure to promote the digital
transformation process. At the same time, SMEs need to have a plan to attract, train and
retain talents, especially employees with skills and knowledge in digital transformation. The
focus on building and implementing a digital business strategy also needs attention. In
addition, the support of business associations and state agencies is important in promoting
and facilitating the digital transformation of SMEs today.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thank you editors, friends and brothers to assist this publishing.
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Digital transformation barriers for small and medium enterprises in Vietnam today
Barreras de transformación digital para las pequeñas y medianas empresas en Vietnam hoy
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