Building Resilient and Agile SMEs: Strategic Responses to Digital Disruption and Transformation

Dear Colleagues,

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and amidst rapid digital disruption, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face urgent pressure to digitally transform. While digital transformation (DT) offers clear benefits—such as automation and process optimization (Saáry et al., 2022), market expansion and new relationships (Matalamäki & Joensuu-Salo, 2022), enhanced collaboration (Browder et al., 2024; Garzoni et al., 2020; Rossato & Castellani, 2020), access to financial services (Kutlu & Özturan, 2008; Vide et al., 2022), knowledge sharing and innovation (Fauzi & Sheng, 2022; Khin & Ho, 2019; Quinton et al., 2018; Santos & Neumeyer, 2023), workforce development (Radicic & Petković, 2023), customer experience enhancement (Kalidas et al., 2020; Rossato & Castellani, 2020), brand strengthening (Alonso-Almeida et al., 2015), and business model innovation (Moeuf et al., 2018)—many SMEs still struggle to navigate the transition.

Challenges include limited financial resources (Amankwah-Amoah et al., 2021; Amaral et al., 2019; Costa & Castro, 2021; Dörr et al., 2023; Hasyim & Bakri, 2024; Moeuf et al., 2018; Pfister & Lehmann, 2023; Schönberger, 2023; Teltz, 2020), cybersecurity and data protection concerns (Vide et al., 2022), employee resistance to change (Pfister & Lehmann, 2023), skill gaps (Moeuf et al., 2018; Pfister & Lehmann, 2023; Schönberger, 2023; Solberg et al., 2020), lack of awareness and integration strategy (Hasyim & Bakri, 2024; Pfister & Lehmann, 2023; Sousa-Zomer et al., 2020; Vide et al., 2022), infrastructure deficits (Amankwah-Amoah et al., 2021; Kahveci, 2024; Neumeyer et al., 2021), and strategic challenges and resistance (Pfister & Lehmann, 2023; Radicic & Petković, 2023).

This Special Issue explores how SMEs can respond to digital disruption through resilience, agility, and innovation, turning constraints into strategic opportunities. We welcome interdisciplinary contributions addressing strategic, technological, operational, and financial enablers of SME transformation.

Topics of interest include the following:

• Strategic agility and dynamic capabilities;
• Leadership and organizational change in digitalization;
• Innovation-driven recovery and business model renewal;
• Policy and financial support for SME transformation;
• Post-COVID resilience strategies;
• Digital ecosystems and networks;
• Case studies of successful SME transitions.

We encourage submissions that offer both conceptual insights and practical relevance. Authors are invited to submit an abstract to the Guest Editors or the Administrative Sciences editorial office prior to full manuscript submission. All papers will undergo double-blind peer review.

References:

1. Alonso-Almeida, M. D. M., Bremser, K., & Llach, J. (2015). Proactive and reactive strategies deployed by restaurants in times of crisis: Effects on capabilities, organization and competitive advantage. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 27(7), 1641–1661. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-03-2014-0117
2. Amankwah-Amoah, J., Khan, Z., Wood, G., & Knight, G. (2021). COVID-19 and digitalization: The great acceleration. Journal of Business Research, 136, 602–611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.08.011
3. Amaral, A., Jorge, D., & Peças, P. (2019). Small Medium Enterprises and Industry 4.0: Current Models’ Ineptitude and The Proposal of A Methodology To Successfully Implement Industry 4.0 In Small Medium Enterprises. Procedia Manufacturing, 41, 1103–1110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2019.10.039
4. Browder, R. E., Dwyer, S. M., & Koch, H. (2024). Upgrading adaptation: How digital transformation promotes organizational resilience. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 18(1), 128–164. https://doi.org/10.1002/sej.1483
5. Costa, J., & Castro, R. (2021). SMEs Must Go Online—E-Commerce as an Escape Hatch for Resilience and Survivability. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 16(7), 3043–3062. https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070166
6. Dörr, L., Fliege, K., Lehmann, C., Kanbach, D. K., & Kraus, S. (2023). A Taxonomy on Influencing Factors Towards Digital Transformation in SMEs. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 33(1). https://doi.org/10.53703/001c.66283
7. Fauzi, A. A., & Sheng, M. L. (2022). The digitalization of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs): An institutional theory perspective. Journal of Small Business Management, 60(6), 1288–1313. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2020.1745536
8. Garzoni, A., De Turi, I., Secundo, G., & Del Vecchio, P. (2020). Fostering digital transformation of SMEs: A four levels approach. Management Decision, 58(8), 1543–1562. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-07-2019-0939
9. Hasyim, H., & Bakri, M. (2024). Challenges and Strategies for Small Business Survival. The Journal of Business and Management Research, 6(2), 80–90. https://doi.org/10.55098/tjbmr.v6i2.660
10. Kahveci, E. (2024). Digitalization, and digital transformation in MSMEs in Turkey. International Journal of Small and Medium Enterprises and Business Sustainability, 8(2), 18–31. Available online: https://e-journal.trisakti.ac.id/index.php/ijsmebs/article/view/20175.
11. Kahveci, E., Akgul, A. K., Daim, T., & Meissner, D. (2024a). The critical mediator role of process management for effective industry 4.0 implementation in SMEs. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 72, 4–17.
12. Kahveci, E., Avunduk, Z. B., Daim, T., & Zaim, S. (2024b). The role of flexibility, digitalization, and crisis response strategy for SMEs: Case of COVID-19. Journal of Small Business Management, 1–38.
13. Kahveci, E. (2025). Digital Transformation in SMEs: Enablers, Interconnections, and a Framework for Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Administrative Sciences, 15(3), 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15030107
14. Kalidas, S., Magwentshu, N., & Rajagopaul, A. (2020, July). South African SMEs post COVID-19 | McKinsey. How South African SMEs Can Survive and Thrive Post COVID-19. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/middle-east-and-africa/how-south-african-smes-can-survive-and-thrive-post-covid-19
15. Khin, S., & Ho, T. C. (2019). Digital technology, digital capability and organizational performance: A mediating role of digital innovation. International Journal of Innovation Science, 11(2), 177–195. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-08-2018-0083
16. Kutlu, B., & Özturan, M. (2008). The usage and adoption of IT among SMEs in Turkey: An exploratory and longitudinal study. Journal of Information Technology Management, XIX(1), 12–24.
17. Matalamäki, M. J., & Joensuu-Salo, S. (2022). Digitalization and strategic flexibility—a recipe for business growth. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 29(3), 380–401. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-10-2020-0384
18. Moeuf, A., Pellerin, R., Lamouri, S., Tamayo-Giraldo, S., & Barbaray, R. (2018). The industrial management of SMEs in the era of Industry 4.0. International Journal of Production Research, 56(3), 1118–1136. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2017.1372647
19. Neumeyer, X., Santos, S. C., & Morris, M. H. (2021). Overcoming Barriers to Technology Adoption When Fostering Entrepreneurship Among the Poor: The Role of Technology and Digital Literacy. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 68(6), 1605–1618. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2020.2989740
20. Pfister, P., & Lehmann, C. (2023). Measuring the Success of Digital Transformation in German SMEs. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 33(1). https://doi.org/10.53703/001c.39679
21. Quinton, S., Canhoto, A., Molinillo, S., Pera, R., & Budhathoki, T. (2018). Conceptualising a digital orientation: Antecedents of supporting SME performance in the digital economy. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 26(5), 427–439. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2016.1258004
22. Radicic, D., & Petković, S. (2023). Impact of digitalization on technological innovations in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 191, 122474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122474
23. Rossato, C., & Castellani, P. (2020). The contribution of digitalisation to business longevity from a competitiveness perspective. The TQM Journal, 32(4), 617–645. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-02-2020-0032
24. Saáry, R., Kárpáti-Daróczi, J., & Tick, A. (2022). Profit or less waste?: Digitainability in SMEs: A comparison of Hungarian and Slovakian SMEs. Serbian Journal of Management, 17(1), 33–49. https://doi.org/10.5937/sjm17-36437
25. Santos, S. C., & Neumeyer, X. (2023). The Technologization of Entrepreneurial Processes: A Poverty Perspective. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 70(3), 1174–1185. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2022.3195485
26. Schönberger, M. (2023). Artificial Intelligence For Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises: Identifying Key Applications And Challenges. Journal of Business Management, 21, 89–112. https://doi.org/10.32025/JBM23004
27. Solberg, E., Traavik, L. E. M., & Wong, S. I. (2020). Digital Mindsets: Recognizing and Leveraging Individual Beliefs for Digital Transformation. California Management Review, 62(4), 105–124. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008125620931839
28. Sousa-Zomer, T. T., Neely, A., & Martinez, V. (2020). Digital transforming capability and performance: A microfoundational perspective. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 40(7/8), 1095–1128. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-06-2019-0444
29. Teltz, A.-K. (2020). The Impact of Internationalization, Strategic Innovation And Managerial Digitalization on The Business Success of Fintech Enterprises [Doctoral Thesis, University of Latvia]. https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/bitstream/handle/7/53368/298-79360-Teltz_Ann-Kathrin_at20111.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
30. Vide, R. K., Hunjet, A., & Kozina, G. (2022). Enhancing Sustainable Business by SMEs’ Digitalization. Journal of Strategic Innovation and Sustainability, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.33423/jsis.v17i1.5013

Dr. Eyup Kahveci
Dr. Dana Bakry
Dr. Chokri Kooli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Administrative Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• digital transformation
• SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises)
• e-commerce adoption
• strategic agility
• dynamic capabilities
• competitive advantage
• organizational transformation
• digital skills
• innovation
• post-COVID resilience
• digital strategy
• financial implications
• sustainability and digitalization
• digital leadership
• business model innovation
• financial resilience