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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 (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 16716

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Dr. Yu Cui

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Department of Business Administration, School of Management, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: innovation management; human resource management; entrepreneurship management
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Dear Colleagues,

Digital technologies have had a tremendous impact on the world and have forced companies to adapt their business models, strategies, and management practices. In particular, digital technologies are not self-contained and are embedded in wider, constantly changing management systems, platforms, and ecosystems. One potential and desirable outcome of such a technological trend is very likely to be sustainability. Notwithstanding the multitude of definitions, the concept of sustainability essentially refers to a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Numerous ﬁrms are making intentional changes to an organization’s philosophy and values, as well as to its products, processes, or practices, to serve the speciﬁc purpose of creating and realizing social and environmental value in addition to economic returns. The convergence of sustainability and digital imperatives is beginning to gain traction in the private and public sectors, but has yet to galvanize systematic and rigorous academic research. While much of the existing literature has focused on the complementary effects of digital technology, digital management, and sustainability, in this volume, we propose a more holistic approach that allows us to employ digital technologies and digital management to tackle crucial sustainability challenges as a whole. This volume’s focus is on the interrelated dimension of organizational management activities that seek to advance the sustainable development goals through the creative deployment of technologies that create, use, transmit, or source electronic data. We are seeking to achieve environmental and societal benefits and sustainability through digital technologies and digital management.

Dr. Yu Cui
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

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Keywords

digital economy
digital technology
innovation management
human resource management
entrepreneurship
business models
digital management
agility
resilience
sustainability

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1943 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Spatial Role and Influencing Mechanism of the Digital Economy in Empowering High-Quality Economic Development

by Mei Shang, Shaopeng Zhang and Qing Yang

Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1425; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041425 - 8 Feb 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1712

Abstract

Based on the data from 2012 to 2022, this paper comprehensively uses exploratory spatial data analysis, the panel threshold model, and the spatial Durbin model to explore the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and mechanisms of digital economy and high-quality economic development. The results show that the center of gravity of China’s digital economy development has gradually concentrated in the southeast region, and the level of high-quality economic development has improved rapidly, gradually forming a pattern of radiation driving the development of the central and western regions with the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta. The digital economy can significantly improve the level of high-quality economic development, but this effect has a lag effect, and it can be extended to the fifth stage. There is a single threshold for high-quality economic development of the digital economy, and the two stages of its development can significantly promote the high-quality development of the economy, but the effect of the latter stage is weakened, showing the nonlinear characteristics of first strong and then weak. The digital economy has a notable positive spatial spillover impact, and its development dividend will raise this province’s and its bordering provinces’ levels of high-quality economic development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology, Digital Management, and Sustainability)

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24 pages, 2509 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Urban Public Services on the Residence Intentions of Migrant Entrepreneurs in the Western Region of China

by Yu Cui and Yamin Zhang

Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1229; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031229 - 1 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1012

Abstract

Balanced regional development affects high-quality and sustainable development. Previous studies have shown that regional talent allocation, technology business incubators, industrial ecology, cross-regional cooperation, and balanced investment in higher education have positive effects on sustained regional development. Therefore, discussing more influencing factors that promote regionally balanced development is necessary. As far as China is concerned, with the spread of the migrant population to the central and western regions, it is of certain significance to explore the factors affecting the development of the western region from the perspective of migrant entrepreneurs’ flow. Urban public services, as an important way for the government to attract talent, directly affect the residence intentions of migrant entrepreneurs in the future. This paper uses the matching data of the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey and 289 prefecture-level city data from the China City Statistical Yearbook to study the impact of urban public services in the western region on the residence intention of migrant entrepreneurs and further examines the heterogeneous impact of urban public services in the western region on the residence intention of migrant entrepreneurs. We find that urban public services in the western region significantly affect the residence intention of migrant entrepreneurs; that is, the higher the level of urban public services, the stronger the residence intention of migrant entrepreneurs. According to the heterogeneity analysis of household registration differences, generational differences, family structure differences, employment identity differences, and industry and flow range differences, this paper finds that public services have a positive impact on the residence intention of non-urban migrant entrepreneurs, the older generation of migrant entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs with small family structures, migrant entrepreneurs in low-tech industries, self-employed entrepreneurs, cross-province migration, and intra-province migrant entrepreneurs. Further analysis indicates that the level of education, culture, medical care, and transportation services in cities significantly enhances the permanent residence intentions of migrant entrepreneurs. The research conclusion not only provides reference and inspiration for China to achieve common prosperity through entrepreneurship and poverty reduction practices, but it can also, to some extent, alleviate population aggregation in large cities and promote the formation of a scientific and reasonable urbanization pattern. In addition, this paper explores the attractiveness of public services to migrant entrepreneurs in the western region of China from the perspective of entrepreneurs’ mobility and complements the relevant research on promoting regional balanced development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology, Digital Management, and Sustainability)

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17 pages, 867 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Food Supply Chain Digitalization Opportunities in the Function of Sustainability of Food Placement in the Western Balkans Region

by Dražen Marić, Goran Vukmirović, Radenko Marić, Daniela Nuševa, Ksenija Leković and Sonja Vučenović

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010002 - 19 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1365

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze and define incentives for the implementation of modern technology and digitalization of the Food Supply Chain (FSC) in the function of sustainability of the food retail sector of the Western Balkans (WB) region. The survey method was applied to a sample of 255 employees. We tested the importance of certain indicators for the implementation of the digitalization process, such as the application of Blockchain Technology (BT), the use of modern IT solutions for traceability, the implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT), the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI), development of a system for electronic food placement, implementation of standards, measures, and procedures for regulating the digitalization process, continuous training of employees and economic and financial measures and incentives. A special segment of research deals with the impact of the implemented digitalization process on the sustainability of food placement. The research was conducted among employees of SMEs, large-scale business entities, and retail chains. The research results showed significant deviations from the mentioned incentives to the digitalization process depending on the size of the FSC participants. The work has practical implications because the obtained results show the FSC management, trade policy makers, and competent institutions (ministries, chambers of commerce, professional associations) what measures to apply in order to improve a more efficient implementation of the digitalization process of food placement and lay the foundation for the sustainability of the FSC. Guidelines for future research are outlined in the paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology, Digital Management, and Sustainability)

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22 pages, 1356 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bilateral Effects of the Digital Economy on Manufacturing Employment: Substitution Effect or Creation Effect?

by Chenhui Ding, Xiaoming Song, Yingchun Xing and Yuxuan Wang

Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14647; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914647 - 9 Oct 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2058

Abstract

Understanding the substitution effect and creation effect of digital transformation on the manufacturing industry is crucial to safeguarding employment stability and advancing manufacturing sophistication in China’s contemporary context. In this study, a bilateral stochastic frontier model is used to examine the aforementioned effects drawing on provincial panel data of China spanning 2011 to 2020. The study reveals that: Firstly, the substitution effect of digital economy development on manufacturing employment outweighs the creation effect, culminating in a 7.80% decrease below the frontier benchmark, contrasted by a 4.15% increase attributed to the creation effect. The two effects possess an inverse relationship, collectively inducing a 3.66% decline in manufacturing employment as compared to the frontier. Secondly, the prevailing influence of the digital economy upon manufacturing employment is predominantly characterized by the substitution effect. However, projected medium to long term trajectories intimate a diminishing potency of this substitution effect and the creation effect will become more pronounced. Thirdly, in terms of geographical areas, the weakening of the employment-substitution effect due to the digital economy is most evident in the central region, followed by the western, and then the eastern regions. Conclusively, the impact of the digital economy on manufacturing employment exhibits variances contingent upon distinct economic maturation and disparate human capital stratification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology, Digital Management, and Sustainability)

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23 pages, 754 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Transformation, Top Management Team Heterogeneity, and Corporate Innovation: Evidence from A Quasi-Natural Experiment in China

by Qincheng Zhang and Mingzeng Yang

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1780; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031780 - 17 Jan 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3071

Abstract

Digitalization has brought great changes to economic and social development, and corporate digital transformation has gradually become the focus of academic attention. We explore the economic impacts of digital transformation from the perspective of corporate innovation utilizing a sample of China’s A-share listed manufacturing firms from 2008 to 2020, depending on the quasi-natural experiment of “Integration of Informatization & Industrialization”. Using the difference-in-differences (DID) model, we document that the growth of innovation considerably tends to rise via corporate digital transformation, and top management team (TMT) heterogeneity plays a positively moderating role in this process. The findings are still reliable after the parallel trend test, PSM-DID, placebo test, and the test of excluding alternative explanations. Extended analyses find that the innovation incentive effect of digital transformation will enhance corporate value in the later stage. Our findings not only contribute to the advancement of the study in digital transformation, but also offer theoretical support and useful advice for furthering corporate digitalization and upgrading the mechanism for creative growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology, Digital Management, and Sustainability)

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19 pages, 1758 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Psychological Research of College Students Based on Online Education under COVID-19

by Xi Wang and Yuntao Zou

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1040; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021040 - 6 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3375

Abstract

As a socially sensitive group, college students have a higher risk of mental health problems. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many nonlocal college students were isolated locally and were not able to attend classes as usual. This series of protective measures to avoid the spread of the disease may bring an additional mental impact on college students’ lives. As an important aspect of the sustainable development goals of quality education, education plays a central role in shaping personal and social change towards sustainability. The COVID-19 environment poses a great challenge to the education of university students. The purpose of this study is to propose a strategy to use an intelligent online learning system based on content recommendation and electronic questionnaires in the field of education. We invited 3000 isolated college students (47.6% male and 52.4% female) to participate in an internet trial. It proved to be effective in helping us intervene quickly, objectively, effectively, and in real-time in students’ psychological problems. In addition, according to the data analysis collected by the intelligent online learning system, we found that the degree of isolation regarding college students’ psychological problems was closely related to their grade, family background, professional category, and computer proficiency. This study shows that, during the period of isolation, the mental health of college students should be well monitored. Targeted psychosocial guidance is more needed for students with higher grades, those with low-income families, liberal arts majors, and those with weak computer skills in order to reduce the emotional impact of isolation on students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology, Digital Management, and Sustainability)

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16 pages, 4361 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Digital Economy Agglomeration on Regional Green Total Factor Productivity Disparity: Evidence from 285 Cities in China

by Kai Chen, Feng Guo and Shuang Xu

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14676; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214676 - 8 Nov 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2577

Abstract

Purpose—The unbalanced layout of digital economy agglomeration has a significant impact on regional high-quality development. This study aims to explore the impact of digital economy agglomeration on regional green total factor productivity (GTFP) disparity from two aspects, including theoretical mechanism and empirical effect. Design/methodology/approach—Based on the empirical data of 285 cities above the prefecture level in China from 2003 to 2018, super-efficiency undesired SBM model, spatial Dubin model, and intermediary effect model are utilized to analyze how digital economy agglomeration affects regional GTFP disparity. Findings—The results show that the GTFP of China is on the rise as a whole, but the gap among cities is gradually expanding. Digital economy agglomeration has significant positive direct effects and positive spillover effects on GTFP, but digital economy agglomeration also aggravates the regional GTFP disparity due to disequilibrium industrial upgrading mechanism. Originality/value—The paper confirms the relationship between digital economy agglomeration and regional GTFP disparity for the first time. Different from previous studies, the industrial upgrading mechanism in this paper includes industrial structure upgrading and industrial spatial evolution. The study calls for the industrial bottleneck of “low-end locking” in underdeveloped cities to be noticed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology, Digital Management, and Sustainability)

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