DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND INNOVATION IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK

Auteurs-es

  • Anna C. Bocar Assistant Professor, Dr., Department of Business and Management Studies, Gulf College, Sultanate of Oman
  • Rowena Ocier Sibayan Assistant Professor, Dr., Department of Computing Sciences, Gulf College, Sultanate of Oman
  • Gina G. Jocson Assistant Professor, Dr., Department of Business and Management Studies Gulf College, Sultanate of Oman

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejefr.v10i6.2326

Mots-clés :

digital transformation, innovation, digital capabilities, business strategy, competitive advantage

Résumé

Digital transformation has emerged as a strategic imperative for organizations seeking to enhance competitiveness, improve operational performance, and respond effectively to rapidly evolving market demands. While the adoption of digital technologies creates significant opportunities for business innovation, organizations often encounter complex technological, organizational, strategic, and cultural challenges that hinder successful transformation. This study examines the dual role of digital transformation as both an enabler of innovation and a source of barriers that can constrain organizational growth. Using a systematic review of literature drawn from peer-reviewed journal articles, academic books, conference proceedings, industry reports, and publications from international organizations, the study synthesizes current knowledge on the factors influencing innovation in digitally transforming organizations. The findings reveal that the success of digital transformation extends beyond the implementation of technology and depends largely on the alignment of people, processes, organizational culture, leadership, and digital capabilities. Major barriers identified include legacy systems, resistance to change, leadership deficiencies, skills shortages, data governance challenges, and cybersecurity concerns. At the same time, digital transformation creates valuable opportunities for customer experience enhancement, business model innovation, data-driven decision-making, workforce empowerment, sustainability initiatives, and ecosystem collaboration. Based on these findings, the study proposes an integrated perspective that links digital transformation challenges, organizational capabilities, and innovation outcomes. The paper concludes that organizations that invest in digital infrastructure, cultivate a culture of continuous learning and innovation, strengthen leadership commitment, and leverage collaborative digital ecosystems are better positioned to achieve sustainable growth and long-term competitive advantage in an increasingly digital business environment.

Biographies de l'auteur-e

  • Anna C. Bocar, Assistant Professor, Dr., Department of Business and Management Studies, Gulf College, Sultanate of Oman

    Dr. Anna Bocar is an accomplished academic professional with over three decades of experience in higher education, specializing in Business Management and Law. In her capacity as an Assistant Professor, she has demonstrated sustained commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and academic service. Her scholarly contributions are published in reputable national and international journals and conference proceedings, reflecting her expertise in management practices and interdisciplinary research. She has presented numerous research papers at national and international conferences. Her research excellence has been recognized through multiple Best Paper Awards, underscoring the originality, relevance, and scholarly significance of her work. She integrates teaching with sustained research engagement and contributes to the advancement of higher education through scholarly publications, academic conference participation, and curriculum development initiatives. Her professional career reflects a strong commitment to academic excellence, knowledge dissemination, and the continuous development of teaching and research practices in higher education. For access to her published research articles, please visit:

    Google Scholar:  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=D6DANk4AAAAJ&hl=en

    Scopus ID:  https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57209177594

    SSRN: https://ssrn.com/author=870740

    ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anna-Bocar

    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3895-7567

  • Rowena Ocier Sibayan, Assistant Professor, Dr., Department of Computing Sciences, Gulf College, Sultanate of Oman

    Dr. Rowena Ocier Sibayan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computing Sciences at Gulf College, Oman. She holds a Doctor of Education degree specializing in Educational Management and a Master of Science in Computer Science. Her academic and research interests encompass digital transformation, educational technology, artificial intelligence, innovation, entrepreneurship, and e-commerce. She has contributed to scholarly research on technology-enhanced learning, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship education. She is also involved in research exploring the application of artificial intelligence in digital marketing, particularly customer segmentation and sentiment analysis. Through her teaching, research, and academic mentorship, Dr. Sibayan contributes to the advancement of digital innovation and technology-enhanced education in higher education. She is also an author of Entrepreneurship Unlocked: A Growth Mindset Guide for Aspiring Entrepreneurs, a publication that promotes entrepreneurial thinking, resilience, and lifelong learning.

    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3718-7513 

    ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rowena-Sibayan/research

    Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=maXHA1YAAAAJ&hl=en

  • Gina G. Jocson, Assistant Professor, Dr., Department of Business and Management Studies Gulf College, Sultanate of Oman

    Dr. Gina G. Jocson is currently an Assistant Professor at Gulf College, Oman, with over 30 years of teaching experience in higher education. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Management and is a licensed professional teacher. She previously served as a Research Head at a college in the Philippines, where she led institutional research activities and supported the development of a strong research culture. Dr. Jocson has published research articles, conference papers, books, and reviews in international refereed journals. Her research interests include Educational Management, Human Resource Management/Leadership, Social Science and Technology, Business Quality Management and Multidisciplinary research fields. She continues to contribute to teaching, research, and student development through her academic work and professional experience.

    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0118-6954,

    Scopus Author ID: 57280870700

Références

Bharadwaj, N. & Shipley, G. (2020). Salesperson communication effectiveness in a digital sales interaction. Industrial Marketing Management. Volume 90, October 2020, pp. 106-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2020.07.002

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), pp. 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Bouwmans, M., Lub, X., Orlowski, M., & Nguyen, T.-V. (2024). Developing the digital transformation skills framework: A systematic literature review approach. PLOS ONE, 19(7). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304127

Castells, M. (2009). The Rise of the Network Society. 2nd edition. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444319514

Chatterjee, S., Chaudhuri, R., Vrontis, D., & Giovando, G. (2023). Digital workplace and organization performance: Moderating role of digital leadership capability, Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2023.100334

Cramarenco, R. E., Burcă-Voicu, M. I., & Dabija, D. C. (2023). The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on employees’ skills and well-being in global labor markets: A systematic review. Oeconomia Copernicana, 14 (3), pp. 731–767. https://doi.org/10.24136/oc.2023.022

Chesbrough, H., & Bogers, M. (2014). Explicating open innovation: Clarifying an emerging paradigm. In H. Chesbrough, W. Vanhaverbeke, & J. West (Eds.), New frontiers in open innovation (pp. 3–28). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199682461.003.0001

Cox, A. (2022). Mapping the nomological network of change fatigue: identifying predictors, mediators and consequences. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 35(4/5), pp. 718–733. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-12-2021-0369

Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, L., Ismagilova, E., et al. (2021). Artificial intelligence (AI): Multidisciplinary perspectives on emerging challenges, opportunities, and agenda for research, practice and policy. International Journal of Information Management, 57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2019.101994

European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (2019). ENISA threat landscape report 2018: 15 top cyber-threats and trends. Heraklion: European Network and Information Security Agency. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2824/622757

Edmondson, A.C., & Harvey, J.-F. (2018). Cross-boundary teaming for innovation: Integrating research on teams and knowledge in organizations, Human Resource Management Review, 28(4), pp. 347–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2017.03.002

George, G., Merrill, R. K., & Schillebeeckx, S. J. D. (2021). Digital sustainability and entrepreneurship: How digital innovations are helping tackle climate change and sustainable development. Journal of Business Research, 125, pp. 299–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.034

Ghobakhloo, M., Fathi, M., Iranmanesh, M., Maroufkhani, P., & Morales, M. E. (2021). Industry 4.0 ten years on: A bibliometric and systematic review of concepts, sustainability value drivers, and success determinants. Journal of Cleaner Production, 302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127052.

Hanelt, A., Bohnsack, R., Marz, D., & Antunes Marante, C. (2021). A systematic review of the literature on digital transformation: Insights and implications for strategy and organizational change. Journal of Management Studies, 59(2), pp. 583-583. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12639

Joergensen, P.N. and Zaggl, M., (2024). The role of data science and data analytics for innovation: a literature review, Journal of Business Analytics, 7(4), p. 207. https://doi.org/10.1080/2573234X.2024.2365917

Kane, G. C., Palmer, D., Phillips, A. N., Kiron, D., & Buckley, N. (2019). Accelerating digital innovation inside and out. MIT Sloan Management Review, 60(2), pp. 1–12. Available at: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/projects/accelerating-digital-innovation-inside-andout/?utm_source

Khatri, V., & Brown, C. V. (2010). Designing data governance. Communications of the ACM, 53(1), 148–152. https://doi.org/10.1145/1629175.1629210

Khan, K. S., Kunz, R., Kleijnen, J., & Antes, G. (2003). Five steps to conducting a systematic review. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 96(3), pp. 118–121. https://doi.org/10.1177/014107680309600304

Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading change. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press. Page 109,

Lemon, K. N., & Verhoef, P. C. (2016). Understanding customer experience throughout the customer journey. Journal of Marketing, 80(6), pp. 69–96. https://doi.org/10.1509/jm.15.0420

Lee, M. C. M., Scheepers, H., Lui, A. K. H., & Ngai, E. W. T. (2023). The implementation of artificial intelligence in organizations: A systematic literature review. Information & Management, 60(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2023.103816

Leão, P., & da Silva, M. M. (2021). Impacts of digital transformation on firms' competitive advantages: A systematic literature review. Strategic Change, 30(5), pp. 421–441. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsc.2459

Leso, B.H., Cortimiglia, M.N. & Ghezzi, A., (2023). The contribution of organizational culture, structure, and leadership factors in the digital transformation of SMEs: a mixed-methods approach. Cognition, Technology and Work, 25(1), pp. 151–179 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-022-00714-2

Li, L., Lin, J., Ouyang, Y. and Luo, X., (2022). Evaluating the impact of big data analytics usage on the decision-making quality of organizations, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, p. 175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121355

Li, L., Zhu, W., Wei, L. & Yang, S. (2022). How can digital collaboration capability boost service innovation? Evidence from the information technology industry, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121830

Mikalef, P., Krogstie, J., Pappas, I. O., & Pavlou, P. A. (2020). Investigating the effects of big data analytics capabilities on firm performance. Information & Management, 57(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2019.103169

Nambisan, S., Wright, M., & Feldman, M. (2019). The digital transformation of innovation and entrepreneurship. Research Policy, 48(8). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2019.03.001

NIST. (2018). Framework for improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity (Version 1.1). National Institute of Standards and Technology. https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.CSWP.04162018

Nadkarni, S., & Prügl, R. (2021). Digital transformation: A review, synthesis and opportunities for future research. Management Review Quarterly, 71, pp. 233–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-020-00185-7

Perera, H., Azadnia, A.H. & Ghadimi, P. (2022). Development of a multi-agent system to tackle communication fragmentation and information exchange in the construction industry, IFAC-Papers Online, 55(10), pp. 335–340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2022.09.409

Park, Y., Pavlou, P. A., & Saraf, N. (2020). Configurations for achieving organizational ambidexterity with digitization. Information Systems Research, 31(4), pp. 1376–1397. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2020.0950

Rêgo, B. S., Lourenço, D., Moreira, F., & Pereira, C. S. (2024). Digital transformation, skills and education: A systematic literature review. Education and Information Technologies, 29, 4791–4824. https://doi.org/10.1177/09504222231208969

Schnackenberg, A. K., & Tomlinson, E. C. (2016). Organizational transparency: A new perspective on managing trust in organization-stakeholder relationships. Journal of Management, 42(7), 1784–1810. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206314525202

Soto-Acosta, P. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic: Shifting digital transformation to a high-speed gear. Journal of Business Research, 117, pp. 434–438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.04.038

Tushman, M. L., & O’Reilly, C. A. (2013). Organizational ambidexterity: Past, present, and future. California Management Review, 55(4), pp. 8–34. https://doi.org/10.1525/cmr.2013.55.4.8

Tran Xuan, Q., Truong, H.T.H. and Vo Quang, T. (2023). The impacts of omnichannel retailing properties on customer experience and brand loyalty: A study in the banking sector, Cogent Business & Management, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2244765

Van Dijk, J. (2026). Digital divide research, achievements and shortcomings. Poetics. 34, (4–5), pp. pp. 221-235. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304422X06000167

Vaska, S., Massaro, M., Bagarotto, E. M., & Dal Mas, F. (2021). The digital transformation of business model innovation: A structured literature review. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.539363

Verhoef, P. C., Broekhuizen, T., Bart, Y., Bhattacharya, A., Qi Dong, J., Fabian, N., & Haenlein, M. (2021). Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 122(122), pp. 889–901. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.022

Vial, G. (2019). Understanding digital transformation: A review and a research agenda. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 28(2), pp. 118–144. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003

Warner, K. S. R., & Wäger, M. (2019). Building dynamic capabilities for digital transformation: An ongoing process of strategic renewal. Long Range Planning, 52(3), pp. 326–349. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2018.12.001

Zarea, H. (2026). Interactive Framework on Absorptive Capacity and Organizational Learning for Circular Economy Transition. Business Strategy and the Environment, pp. 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.70788

Zhao, M., Liao, H. T., & Sun, S. P. (2020). An education literature review on digitization, digitalization, datafication, and digital transformation. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Humanities and Social Science Research (HSSR 2020), pp. 302-306. Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200428.065

Téléchargements

Publié

2026-10-12

Numéro

Vol. 10 No. 6 (2026)

Rubrique

Articles