A Sustainable Digital Transformation and Management of Small and Medium Enterprises through Green Enterprise Architecture

Abstract

Digital Transformation (DT) is essential for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to enhance operational effectiveness, stimulate innovation, and address forthcoming issues. Incorporating sustainability into this procedure not only improves the image of a business but also draws consumers and investors who prioritize commitment to the environment. Even with this change, several SMEs need explicit objectives or strategies. The research analysis revealed an absence of frameworks that include sustainability in the DT procedure for SMEs. This article addresses the gap by including Environmental Sustainability (ES) in the discussion of DT, presenting Green Enterprise Architecture as a methodology for sustainable transformation that assesses technological maturity and enables incremental adoption by strategic goals. A thorough literature study employing the Methodi Ordinatio identified six fundamental elements of the digital shift. As a result, the Pathway was established, utilizing ISO-IEC 33000 standards to provide delineated methods for improving digital capabilities. The pathway encompasses three tiers of organizational organizing: strategic, tactical, and practical. It incorporates a maturity framework that assesses 70 activities along 6 measurements: Digital Technology, Consumer Concentration, Institutional Cultural Affairs, Organizational Management, Individuals, and Environment. A case study validated the pathway's efficacy in tackling real-world difficulties and assisting SMEs in digitalization. The Pathway offers a thorough and cohesive strategy, guaranteeing constant modification and enhancement in sustainable digital alteration initiatives. This pathway identifies a critical deficiency in research and provides a pragmatic, planned, and flexible framework for SMEs starting their DT endeavors.