The digitalization phenomenon and digital strategies in emerging countries: A semi-systematic review

Abstract

Purpose: Through a review of the literature on digitalization in emerging countries, we analyzed how companies operating in these regions develop and implement strategies to navigate the digital era. Originality/value: The emergence of new technologies has reconfigured businesses’ survival and competitiveness worldwide, however, little is known about the digital strategies employed by companies in emerging markets. By reviewing the literature, scarce in this context, we contributed by presenting examples of digital strategies that businesses have implemented. In line with our findings, we propose a research agenda to guide future studies. Design/methodology/approach: We performed a semi-systematic review of business and management journals, comprising a total sample of 30 articles from different fields of knowledge. We present our findings in three thematic categories and other subcategories. Findings: Our findings suggest the institutional voids that limit firms’ innovation (e.g., lack of clear regulations, skilled workforce, access to data, and financial resources) are the main challenges keeping them from digitalizing themselves. Nevertheless, firms develop capabilities to scout opportunities, despite the challenges, and implement digital strategies that support their digitalization process.

Strategic digital city: Concept, model, and research cases

“…City strategies can be understood by means, pathways, or ways to achieve the city's objectives, and are also relevant in the development and execution of city strategic planning (Rezende, 2012). Strategies dynamics include a set of decisions to guide behavior in the city, addressing turbulence and changing conditions that surround and include municipalities, city halls, and public organizations (Alizadeh, 2017;Granda and Machin-Mastromatteo, 2017;Leão et al, 2023;K. Mouratidis, 2021;Weiss, 2020).…”

“…While smart cities, for example, normally are based on software in the appropriation of urban space (Almeida and Rezende, 2021), the SDC is based on the strategies listed for the city centered on the citizens' quality of life and on meeting the city's objectives and the metropolitan region (Rezende, 2018). These challenges have led many cities to propose improvements in their urban infrastructure, including digital vision and strategy as innovative alternatives (A. , facilitating interactions between different social actors that include city management and citizen participation (Chatterton, 2019), restoring the citizens' democratic participation (Masik et al, 2021) also promoting the governments' legitimacy (He and Ma, 2021) and in this case, all these initiatives can also be considered city strategy (Betancur and Brand, 2023;Leão et al, 2023).…”

“…When the city practices collaborative planning, lifestyle becomes more adequate, both in the urban and digital aspects (Bjørgen et al, 2021;Hatuka et al, 2021), where the city's performance indicators can also help in the quality of information analysis made available and public services offered to citizens through the technological resources of digital channels (Ryzin, 2015;Tangi et al, 2021) where all residents can be considered co-producers, fostering confidence in city management (Eijk and Steen, 2016;Farr, 2016;Fledderus et al, 2014) and facilitating the proper use of available digital technologies used to face the cities challenges, both in the urban and rural environment (Bauriedl and Strüver, 2020;Cheng et al, 2022;Chiappini, 2020;Leão et al, 2023;Shih et al, 2021). Proper city management also uses technological tools for urban and rural planning and control (Bennani et al, 2022), which favors strategic digital projects applied in cities, proposing a more inclusive, effective, participatory, democratic local management (Davidson, 2023;Masik et al, 2021;Wu et al, 2020).…”

Analysing the impact of COVID-19 on the digital strategies of South African retailers

“…Nevertheless, many organisations struggle with digital transformation, because they initiate technological change without building an overall plan or consistent digital strategy (AlNuaimi et al 2022). It is clear from the literature that a digital strategy forms part of the overall strategy of organisations (Leão et al 2023;Matt et al 2015). However, to understand digital strategy within context, the concept of 'strategy' has to be understood.…”

“…However, limited research exists on the implementation of digital strategies. Leão et al (2023) conducted a literature review on digitalisation and digital strategies in emerging countries, while Lipsmeier et al (2020) investigated the process when a digital strategy is developed. Ritala et al (2021) considered the role that entrepreneurial orientation and relational capital played during the implementation of a digital strategy.…”