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Sustainable Adoption of Innovative Digital Technologies in Digital Transformation

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 April 2024) | Viewed by 20610

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Naim Ahmad

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Guest Editor

Information System, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Interests: digital transformation; enterprise systems; E-Learning; sustainability; decision science; fuzzy ISM and MCDM

Dr. Muhammad Irfan

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Guest Editor

School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: business economics; environmental economics; energy economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ayman Qahmash

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Guest Editor

Information System, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Interests: information systems; statistical modeling; data science; educational data mining

Dr. Mohammad Mahtab Alam

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Guest Editor

Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Applied Medical Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Interests: biostatistics; public health; health economics; econometrics; modeling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Digital transformation (DT) is no longer an emerging trend; it has become integrated into national and corporate strategic agendas. It is considered a viable mechanism to realize the needed transformations in today’s hyper-competitive environment. The debate continues in academia and industry as to what constitutes a DT and its purpose? Who defines the objectives and manages the process of DT? What’s the scope, scale, and speed of DT? Nonetheless, it is quite obvious that DT is the adoption of innovative digital technologies to bring individual, firm, and national transformations to meet unprecedented goals. Within this context, DT could become a vehicle to achieve all 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, due to the well-documented failed adoption of digital technologies and hence digital transformations on the onset, it is important to imbibe the sustainability principles in DT. The principles of sustainability assert using well-rounded performance measures in people (social), profit (economic), and planet (environment) dimensions. Thus, it defines broader and longer-lasting returns from DT. We could conjecture the three-broad phases for DT. First, the phase that defines the goals of DT, the second phase that focuses on the sustainable adoption of DT, and the third phase that implements the innovative digital technologies in DT. The goals of DT may be defined within the frameworks of strategic information system management. A sustainable adoption of DT may support in defining the multi-dimensional benefits framework aligned with sustainability dimensions and be helpful in developing the business case to gain needed resources. Finally, the implementation cycle of innovative digital technologies will play a leading role in realizing the goals of transformations.

In this Special Issue, experimental, case-based, qualitative, quantitative, survey, and review articles are invited to include areas of DT (but is not limited to) such as evolution and theory, ethics, organizational design, change management, implementation methodologies, service model, benefits and risks within the lens of sustainability, enablers and barriers, legal frameworks, and architectures. Further, the articles dealing with the adoption of DT in healthcare, education, smart cities, industry 4.0, government services, agriculture, and to support SDGs are also solicited.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Naim Ahmad
Dr. Muhammad Irfan
Dr. Ayman Qahmash
Dr. Mohammad Mahtab Alam
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 single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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.

Keywords

evolution and theory of digital transformation
framework for alignment of digital transformation with transformational goals
guidelines to develop business case for digital transformation
ethics of digital transformation
organizational design for digital transformation
implementation methodologies in digital transformation
sustainable benefits framework of digital transformation
service model of digital transformation
change management for digital transformation
risks of digital transformation within the lens of sustainability
enablers and barriers of digital transformation
digital transformation and legal frameworks
architectures for digital transformation
digital transformation in support of sustainable development goals
digital transformation in healthcare, education, and government services
digital transformation in Industry 4.0 and smart cities
digital transformation in agriculture, mining, and energy

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1657 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Students’ Intention toward Artificial Intelligence in the Context of Digital Transformation

by Nikola Milicevic, Branimir Kalas, Nenad Djokic, Borka Malcic and Ines Djokic

Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3554; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su16093554 - 24 Apr 2024

Viewed by 591

Abstract

The analysis of students’ attitudes and perceptions represents a basis for enhancing different types of activities, including teaching, learning, assessment, etc. Emphasis might be placed on the implementation of modern procedures and technologies, which play an important role in the process of digital transformation. Among them is artificial intelligence—a technology that has already been found to be applicable in various sectors. When it comes to education, several AI-based tools and platforms can be used by students and teachers. Besides offering customized learning experiences, AI may play a significant part in establishing the concept of sustainability, especially when concerning the achievement of sustainable development goal 4. This paper investigates students’ intention to use artificial intelligence in education, taking three predictors from the UTAUT model and AI awareness as the moderator. The analysis included students from the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia. For the purpose of the research, the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method was applied. Hereby, two models (without and with a moderator) were tested to examine the main and moderating effects, respectively. Regarding the results, while interaction terms were non-significant, the impacts of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence on behavioral intention were significant and positive. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Adoption of Innovative Digital Technologies in Digital Transformation)

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18 pages, 1073 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Digital Transformation on the High-Quality Development of Enterprises: An Exploration Based on Meta-Analysis

by Dong Liang and Jin Tian

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3188; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su16083188 - 10 Apr 2024

Viewed by 674

Abstract

With the rapid development of the digital economy and digital technologies, the significance of digital transformation for high-quality enterprise development has been growing. Anchored in the framework of the Resource-Based View, this study employs a meta-analytic approach to systematically, quantitatively analyze 40 empirical studies published between 2010 and 2022. The aims are to synthesize and identify the impact mechanisms of digital transformation on high-quality enterprise development, while also further examining the moderating effects of heterogeneity. The findings reveal that digital transformation exerts a significantly positive influence on high-quality enterprise development through three mechanisms: factors related to innovation, factors linked to enterprise performance, and factors associated with capital market performance. Notably, irrespective of the degree of heterogeneity, both the primary effects of digital transformation on high-quality enterprise development and the moderating effects of various impact mechanisms are statistically significant. The results underscore the importance of digital transformation in driving high-quality enterprise development and offer valuable insights for relevant decision makers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Adoption of Innovative Digital Technologies in Digital Transformation)

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24 pages, 1258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Critical Success Factors and Challenges in Adopting Digital Transformation in the Saudi Ministry of Education

by Mohammed Alojail, Jawaher Alshehri and Surbhi Bhatia Khan

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15492; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su152115492 - 31 Oct 2023

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Abstract

Many countries are using digital transformation to increase their productivity and organizational performance. In Saudi Arabia, digital transformation is a crucial part of their Saudi Vision 2030 plan, but it is still in its early stages. To understand the factors that affect the adoption of digital transformation. The study used a qualitative interview to identify the critical success factors and challenges in adopting digital transformation at the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia. The main results of the study show, first, the seven main success factors include technology, employee engagement, vendor partnerships, budget, top management support, culture, and strategy. Second, the main seven challenges include organizational and strategic stakes, resistance to change, governance, data, cost, and IT infrastructure. The study developed a framework that shows the main success factors and challenges that affect adopting digital transformation in the Ministry of Education. These findings can benefit many individuals and groups, such as academics, business people, and the public, and can apply this research in other contexts. This research aimed to determine the primary factors contributing to the success of digital transformation in the Ministry of Education and the challenges that arise when implementing it, specifically within the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Adoption of Innovative Digital Technologies in Digital Transformation)

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20 pages, 828 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Digital Transformation toward Sustainable Development

by Mohammed Alojail and Surbhi Bhatia Khan

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 14697; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su152014697 - 10 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 8191

Abstract

The rapid advancements in digital technologies have prompted organizations to embrace digital transformations (DTs) in order to enhance efficiency, gain a competitive advantage, and achieve long-term sustainability objectives. However, the successful adoption of innovative digital technologies necessitates the careful consideration of various factors, such as stakeholder engagement, resource allocation, risk mitigation, and the availability of resources and implementation support. This study examines the sustainable adoption of innovative digital technologies (DTs) within digital transformations. The data for this study were collected from 760 stakeholders through a questionnaire survey and analyzed using SPSS software (Version 27). This study’s results underscore the significance of considering the efficiency of the transformation process and the long-term sustainability outcomes for organizations. The findings of the analysis clarify that integrating sustainability principles and DT has a positive impact on the effectiveness of the transformation, as indicated by environmental, social, and economic performance indicators. This study’s novelty lies in its focus on incorporating sustainability principles into the digital transformation process. The results of this study demonstrate that organizations’ long-term sustainability outcomes are enhanced when their digital transformation goals align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The purpose of this study emphasizes the importance of arranging digital transformations with sustainable objectives to ensure the overall success and longevity of transformation efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Adoption of Innovative Digital Technologies in Digital Transformation)

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25 pages, 526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Demoethical Model of Sustainable Development of Society: A Roadmap towards Digital Transformation

by Rinat A. Zhanbayev, Muhammad Irfan, Anna V. Shutaleva, Daniil G. Maksimov, Rimma Abdykadyrkyzy and Şahin Filiz

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12478; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su151612478 - 16 Aug 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3038

Abstract

This study aims to explore a demoethical model for sustainable development in modern society. It proposes an approach that focuses on organizing activities to improve sustainable development. Specifically, it presents a demoethical model relevant to Society 5.0 and Industry 5.0 organizations. The objective is to identify demoethical values that can drive sustainable development in the era of digitalization. Through a literature review and analysis, this study identifies key components of the demoethical model and provides practical recommendations for stakeholders involved in digital transformation. The analysis of demoethical norms and phenomena, such as education, nurturing, mind, knowledge, science, and honest work, has enabled the identification of values that align with sustainable development in society. The results of the study demonstrate that the notion of a demoethical foundation for sustainability is rooted in the concept of spirituality as the basis for a new societal development scenario and its relationship with nature. The study shows that ideas about the demoethical basis of sustainability are based on the priority of spirituality as the basis of a new scenario for the development of society, as well as the integration of demographic, socio-economical, and ecological components in system-wide modeling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Adoption of Innovative Digital Technologies in Digital Transformation)

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Review

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22 pages, 1977 KiB

Open AccessReview

Mobile Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review

by Quadri Noorulhasan Naveed, Heena Choudhary, Naim Ahmad, Jarallah Alqahtani and Adel Ibrahim Qahmash

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13566; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su151813566 - 11 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4141

Abstract

Mobile learning (M-Learning) has become a popular and effective method of education that leverages the ubiquity of mobile devices. M-Learning has digitally transformed the process of teaching and learning. It has tremendous potential to empower all sections of society through education and training. This study presents a systematic literature review of M-Learning. The articles were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, a final selection of 161 articles published between 2016 and 2022 was included in the review. To analyze the articles, the researchers employed the TCCM (Theory, Context, Characteristics, Methods) framework, which facilitated addressing the research questions. This review identified various theories, such as behaviorism, constructivism, cognitivism, situated learning, problem-based learning, context awareness learning, socio-cultural theory, collaborative learning, conversational learning, lifelong learning, informal learning, activity theory, connectivism, navigation, and location-based learning, that are used to support and guide the implementation of M-Learning. In terms of context, developing countries contributed to 70.8% of the studies, while developed countries contributed to 29.1%. Further, a majority of the studies, 93%, involved students followed by faculty members and only two studies involved staff from higher education management. A total of 19 unique characteristic factors have been identified, such as personal, intention, attitude, usage, utility, ease of use, learnability, social, technological, pedagogical, anxiety, enjoyment, accessibility, knowledge, experience, trust, price, and habit. A quantitative research design was used in 90% of the studies, followed by mixed methods research design in 7% of the studies, and qualitative research design in only 3% of the studies. Further, this article synthesizes previous research findings and highlights gaps for future research. Overall, this review contributes to the understanding and advancement of M-Learning as a valuable educational platform. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Adoption of Innovative Digital Technologies in Digital Transformation)

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