Digital Economy and Management

A special issue of Information (ISSN 2078-2489). This special issue belongs to the section "Information Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 28304

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Digital technologies are driving transformative change in society and the economy. The dynamics of technological transformations are promoting substantially greater computing capacity and consecutive waves of new technologies. New technologies such as Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, augmented reality, virtual reality, robotics, etc., are impacting each sector of the economy, offering better management opportunities and leading to the digital transformation. Consequently, the digitalization of the economy is considered as a driver of innovation, competitiveness and growth and holds huge potential for entrepreneurs and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The digitalization of the economy is also impacting enterprises, thus resulting in new business models. This practice especially accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing enterprises to adopt digital practices in order to survive in the market. These new practices include working from home, e-learning, virtual tourism, shopping online, etc. Therefore, designing new business models for the digital economy is becoming a vital research topic worldwide.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect theoretical and practical analyses of the digitalization of the economy and management for different actors (individuals, workers, firms, regions, countries…). It aims to understand the structural/marginal changes in the trend of the digitalization of the economy of different countries or regions and to show how digitalization is impacting this management. This Special Issue also welcomes contributions at the methodological level, presenting new ways of capturing the digitalization of different sectors of the economy. 

Potential topics may include, but are not limited to:

  • Digitalization of the economy;
  • Business models for the digital economy;
  • Artificial intelligence and the digital economy;
  • New organizational practices and digitalization;
  • Digitalization and transformation of Human resources practices;
  • Digitalization and new division of work;
  • Digitalization and the absorptive capacity of the firm;
  • Digital economy and entrepreneurship;
  • Internet of Things and the digital economy;
  • Adoption of new digital technologies;
  • Digital skills for digital economy;
  • Contextualization of digital technologies to local markets;
  • E-marketing;
  • Sectoral case studies;
  • Firm case studies.

Dr. Adel Ben Youssef
Guest Editor

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. Information 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.

Keywords

  • digital technologies
  • digital transformation
  • innovation
  • management
  • adoption of digital technologies

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 270 KiB  
Article
Do Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems Have the Dynamic Capabilities to Guide the Digital Transition of Short Food Supply Chains?
by Chrysanthi Charatsari, Anastasios Michailidis, Martina Francescone, Marcello De Rosa, Dimitrios Aidonis, Luca Bartoli, Giuseppe La Rocca, Luca Camanzi and Evagelos D. Lioutas
Information 2024, 15(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/info15010022 - 30 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2012
Abstract
The digitalization of agriculture generates a new environment for the actors involved in agrifood production. In such a context, Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKISs) face the challenge of reconsidering their operational paradigms, redefining priorities, and designing strategies to achieve new aims. To [...] Read more.
The digitalization of agriculture generates a new environment for the actors involved in agrifood production. In such a context, Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKISs) face the challenge of reconsidering their operational paradigms, redefining priorities, and designing strategies to achieve new aims. To do so, the actors participating in AKISs should develop and exploit a set of competencies known as dynamic capabilities, including the aptitude to sense the change in the external environment, the capacity to seize the opportunities that this change creates, and an ability to transform and adapt themselves to the new conditions that digitalization generates. In this study, using as examples the AKISs operating in Greece and Italy, we aimed to uncover if and how actors participating in these systems attempt and manage to deploy such capabilities. Based on a qualitative approach and drawing on data from two workshops, we discovered that seizing the opportunities sensed is a challenging task for AKIS actors. Our results also indicate that knowledge is a pivotal resource for AKISs, allowing actors to enhance their transformative capacity. However, to create a “collective” knowledge base, AKISs should ensure a functional connection between stakeholders and strengthen the roles of actors not actively engaged with the system, like public advisory organizations, universities, and technology providers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Economy and Management)
26 pages, 1468 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Virtual Reality (VR) Tour Experience on Tourists’ Intention to Visit
by Chourouk Ouerghemmi, Myriam Ertz, Néji Bouslama and Urvashi Tandon
Information 2023, 14(10), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/info14100546 - 5 Oct 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 9843
Abstract
Drawing on media richness theory, this study investigates the effect of rich media, such as virtual reality (VR), on visit intentions for a specific destination. Specifically, this research employs a mixed-method approach, using abductive theorization to explore and confirm the dimensions of the [...] Read more.
Drawing on media richness theory, this study investigates the effect of rich media, such as virtual reality (VR), on visit intentions for a specific destination. Specifically, this research employs a mixed-method approach, using abductive theorization to explore and confirm the dimensions of the VR visit experience, notably those related to telepresence, a key concept in tourism through VR. Furthermore, the study aims to elucidate how telepresence influences mental imagery, attitudes towards tourist destinations, and actual visit intentions. To do this, qualitative data were gathered between February and June 2022 from 34 semi-structured interviews with respondents who viewed a VR video of the destination. A second study collected quantitative data from 400 participants through face-to-face questionnaires after a VR video view between June and August 2022. The findings reveal that telepresence comprises three dimensions: realism of the virtual environment, immersion, and the sense of presence in the virtual environment. Telepresence, in turn, both directly and indirectly affects actual visit intentions, with mental imagery and attitude toward tourist destinations partially mediating those relationships. This study provides methodological, theoretical, and tourism management implications to enhance our comprehension of telepresence’s facets, its measurement, and the process by which VR influences real visit intentions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Economy and Management)
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24 pages, 1087 KiB  
Article
Topic Mining and Future Trend Exploration in Digital Economy Research
by Changlu Zhang, Qiong Yang, Jian Zhang, Liming Gou and Haojie Fan
Information 2023, 14(8), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/info14080432 - 1 Aug 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2343
Abstract
This work proposes a new literature topic clustering analysis framework, based on which the topics of digital-economy-related studies are condensed. First, we calculated the word vector of keywords using the FastText model, and then the keywords were merged according to semantic similarity. A [...] Read more.
This work proposes a new literature topic clustering analysis framework, based on which the topics of digital-economy-related studies are condensed. First, we calculated the word vector of keywords using the FastText model, and then the keywords were merged according to semantic similarity. A hierarchical clustering method based on the Jaccard coefficient was employed to cluster the domain documents. Finally, the information gain method was applied to estimate the high-gain feature words for each category of topics. Based on the above framework, 23 categories of research topics were formed. We divided these topics into layers of digital technology, convergence innovation and digital governance, and we constructed a three-level digital economy research framework. Thereafter, the current hot spots and frontier trends were derived based on the number and growth rate of the literature. Our study revealed that the research on digital technology, which is the basic layer of the digital economy, has waned. The field related to the integration and innovation of digital technology and the real economy was the current research focus, among which the results with respect to “New Business Forms in the Digital Age”, “Circular Economy” and “Gig Economy” were abundant. The problems of the unbalanced development of the digital economy and digital monopoly have strengthened research on digital governance. Furthermore, research on “Regional Digital Economy”, “Chinese Digital Economy” and “Data Management” is in its initial stage and is a potential area of future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Economy and Management)
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19 pages, 496 KiB  
Article
Examining the Drivers of E-Commerce Adoption by Moroccan Firms: A Multi-Model Analysis
by Adel Ben Youssef and Mounir Dahmani
Information 2023, 14(7), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/info14070378 - 3 Jul 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3749
Abstract
In the context of an increasingly digitized global marketplace, this study seeks to shed light on its adoption in developing countries, focusing on Morocco. Applying logit, probit, and conditional mixed-process probit models to a sample of 807 Moroccan firms, we identify key factors [...] Read more.
In the context of an increasingly digitized global marketplace, this study seeks to shed light on its adoption in developing countries, focusing on Morocco. Applying logit, probit, and conditional mixed-process probit models to a sample of 807 Moroccan firms, we identify key factors that influence e-commerce adoption. The results show that younger, innovation-driven firms and those with a highly educated workforce tend to adopt e-commerce more readily. However, digital skills required in hiring do not significantly affect adoption, suggesting a complex relationship between digital skills and e-commerce use. The results also show that firms that are active on digital platforms and engage in innovative practices are more likely to adopt e-commerce. Therefore, this study argues for the need to improve digital skills training and for firms to establish a presence on digital platforms and promote innovation. On the policy front, the study suggests the promotion of supportive policies such as financial assistance, improved Internet infrastructure, and robust regulatory frameworks. As an important starting point for future research, these findings underscore the complexities of e-commerce adoption in Morocco and can guide further research, particularly in the context of similar emerging economies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Economy and Management)
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17 pages, 292 KiB  
Article
“Who Should I Trust with My Data?” Ethical and Legal Challenges for Innovation in New Decentralized Data Management Technologies
by Haleh Asgarinia, Andres Chomczyk Penedo, Beatriz Esteves and Dave Lewis
Information 2023, 14(7), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/info14070351 - 21 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2952
Abstract
News about personal data breaches or data abusive practices, such as Cambridge Analytica, has questioned the trustworthiness of certain actors in the control of personal data. Innovations in the field of personal information management systems to address this issue have regained traction in [...] Read more.
News about personal data breaches or data abusive practices, such as Cambridge Analytica, has questioned the trustworthiness of certain actors in the control of personal data. Innovations in the field of personal information management systems to address this issue have regained traction in recent years, also coinciding with the emergence of new decentralized technologies. However, only with ethically and legally responsible developments will the mistakes of the past be avoided. This contribution explores how current data management schemes are insufficient to adequately safeguard data subjects, and in particular, it focuses on making these data flows transparent to provide an adequate level of accountability. To showcase this, and with the goal of enhancing transparency to foster trust, this paper investigates solutions for standardizing machine-readable policies to express personal data processing activities and their application to decentralized personal data stores as an example of ethical, legal, and technical responsible innovation in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Economy and Management)
12 pages, 1260 KiB  
Article
ERP Quality and the Organizational Performance: Technical Characteristics vs. Information and Service
by Amer Balić, Lejla Turulja, Emina Kuloglija and Mirjana Pejić-Bach
Information 2022, 13(10), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/info13100474 - 1 Oct 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5622
Abstract
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have become the most important tool for integrating businesses and achieving the “once only” principle in data entry, which contributes to resource efficiency, the enhancement of numerous organizational processes and capabilities, and, ultimately, improved business performance. In this [...] Read more.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have become the most important tool for integrating businesses and achieving the “once only” principle in data entry, which contributes to resource efficiency, the enhancement of numerous organizational processes and capabilities, and, ultimately, improved business performance. In this study, we examine the ERP system’s quality as the company’s dynamic capability, contributing to business performance according to the dynamic capability perspective. Thus, we incorporate theoretical mechanisms into the model of the ERP system’s dimensions as a function of financial and non-financial organizational performance. We hypothesized that companies with a better ERP system, with all three dimensions, information, system, and services, will achieve better non-financial and financial performance. The model was tested using primary data collected using a survey method in the environment of a developing country, where the digital transformation of companies is still at a lower level. Structural equation modeling was employed for data analysis, and the results suggest a positive relationship between ERP system quality and both types of organizational business performance. The results indicate that not all dimensions have the same effect. The quality of information and service is particularly important for business performance until the system’s technical characteristics have no significant effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Economy and Management)
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