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Sustainability
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Achieving Sustainable Development of Enterprises through Digital Transformation
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Achieving Sustainable Development of Enterprises through Digital Transformation

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (9 December 2023) | Viewed by 9914

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Bernardo Nicoletti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Temple University, Rome, Italy
Interests: lean and digitize: the joint optimization of processes and digital transformation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue aims to advance research and present case studies in sustainable development through digital transformation. The collection of papers will be of interest to scholars in the field.

Sustainability means meeting our needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs. Sustainability is not just environmentalism. In addition to natural resources, we also need social and economic resources. Included in most sustainability definitions, we also find social equity and economic development concerns.

Digital transformation is a fundamental change process, enabled by the innovative use of digital technologies accompanied by the strategic leverage of critical resources and capabilities, aiming to improve an entity radically* and redefine its value proposition for its stakeholders. An entity could be an organization, a business network, an industry, or a society.

Many academic initiatives deal with sustainability, while others discuss digital transformation. There is no integrated view of these two approaches labeled. This special issue aims to present contributions to finding innovative ways to analyze and design the support of sustainability and digitization to create transformative innovation. Transformative innovations are innovations that contribute to those transformations that are desirable and feasible in a specific conjuncture. Desirables are innovations that enable a good life for all within planetary boundaries. Feasible are those that can be implemented here and now, given specific constellations of actors, power relations, and structural constraints and possibilities. AI, Blockchain, Digital Twins, and other digital tools can create innovative applications with endless potential for sustainability. Examples of this approach are integrating innovation in the IoT sector with a focus on transparent and secure data sharing. Other examples are automated, Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted processes for a new sustainable product or process.

This special issue also aims to provide real business cases collected by the Authors in their contributions. These cases must prove how the possible results could broadly impact organizations and substantially improve sustainability.

Examples of contribution would consider

  • Definition of sustainable digital transformation
  • Resiliency and sustainable digital transformation
  • Green and blue transformation
  • Sustainable procurement
  • Sustainable public procurement
  • Sustainable digital transformation projects
  • Benefits and Economics of sustainable digital transformation
  • Business cases of sustainable digital transformation

We invite contributions that, after a peer review, will be part of this special issue.

Prof. Bernardo Nicoletti
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. 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

  • definition of sustainable digital transformation
  • resiliency and sustainable digital transformation
  • green and blue transformation
  • sustainable procurement
  • sustainable public procurement
  • sustainable digital transformation projects
  • benefits and economics of sustainable digital transformation
  • business cases of sustainable digital transformation

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 1137 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Role of Digital Transformation and Breakthrough Innovation in Enhanced Performance of Energy Enterprises: Fresh Evidence for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals
by Yang Yu, Fangrong Ren, Yun Ju, Jingyi Zhang and Xiaoyan Liu
Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 650; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020650 - 11 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1385
Abstract
The energy sector’s digital evolution is a critical micro-reflection of the digital economy’s architecture and an essential tactical pathway for achieving sustainable development goals. However, the value of digital change in regard to how effectively energy firms’ core business functions is not yet [...] Read more.
The energy sector’s digital evolution is a critical micro-reflection of the digital economy’s architecture and an essential tactical pathway for achieving sustainable development goals. However, the value of digital change in regard to how effectively energy firms’ core business functions is not yet apparent. This research utilizes textual analysis to quantify the textual intensity of energy enterprises’ digitization. Applying data gathered from A-share listed firms in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2010 to 2021 and based upon the fixed-effects panel model and mediated effects model, we assess the impact of digitization on critical business performance and evaluate the research themes’ variability from business and geographical viewpoints using a full-sample strategy. We derive three notable findings. First, the digital development of energy enterprises significantly improves the performance of their core businesses and exhibits some fluctuating characteristics. Second, the digitization of energy enterprises greatly increases the input and output of enterprise innovation, thereby improving the efficiency of their core business in the two main ways of breakthrough innovation. Third, there is a nonlinear relationship between the performance of energy enterprises’ core businesses and their digital transformation, meaning there is just one threshold consequence that diminishes after crossing the threshold. Digital transformation enables energy companies to carry out cross-border cooperation and integrate innovative resources, thereby improving corporate performance and promoting sustainable development. This paper offers relevant insights for more effective fostering of digital transformation and can help spur enterprises to seek out distinctive and ground-breaking innovation models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Sustainable Development of Enterprises through Digital Transformation)
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13 pages, 668 KiB  
Article
Artificial Intelligence for the Management of Servitization 5.0
by Bernardo Nicoletti and Andrea Appolloni
Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11113; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411113 - 17 Jul 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2785
Abstract
Purpose—The sale of physical products has been manufacturing companies’ main revenue source. A trend is known as servitization for earning revenue comes from services. With the convergence of servitization and digitization, many manufacturing organizations are undergoing digital servitization. In parallel, the digitization of [...] Read more.
Purpose—The sale of physical products has been manufacturing companies’ main revenue source. A trend is known as servitization for earning revenue comes from services. With the convergence of servitization and digitization, many manufacturing organizations are undergoing digital servitization. In parallel, the digitization of industry is pushing new technological solutions to the top of the business agenda. Artificial intelligence can play a substantial role in this digital business transformation. This evolution is referred to in this paper as Servitization 5.0 and requires substantial changes. Aim—This paper explores the applications of artificial intelligence to Servitization 5.0 strategies and its role, particularly in changing organizations to EverythiA.I.ng as a Service. The paper underlines the contribution that A.I. can provide in moving to a human-centric, sustainable, and resilient servitization. Method used—The basis of the work is a literature review supported by information collected from business case studies by the authors. A follow-up study defined the models. The validity of the model was tested by collecting ten experts’ opinions who currently work within servitization contracts sessions. Findings—For manufacturing companies, selling services requires completely different business models. In this situation, it is essential to consider advanced solutions to support these new business models. Artificial Intelligence can make it possible. On the inter-organizational side, empirical evidence also points to the support of A.I. in collaborating with ecosystems to support sustainability and resilience, as requested by Industry 5.0. Original value—Regarding theoretical implications, this paper contributes to interdisciplinary research in corporate marketing and operational servitization. It is part of the growing literature that deals with the applications of artificial intelligence-based solutions in different areas of organizational management. The approach is interesting because it highlights that digital solutions require an integrated business model approach. It is necessary to implement the technological platform with appropriate processes, people, and partners (the four Ps). The outcome of this study can be generalized for industries in high-value manufacturing. Implications—As implications for management, this paper defines how to organize the structure and support for Servitization 5.0 and how to work with the external business environment to support sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Sustainable Development of Enterprises through Digital Transformation)
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33 pages, 5719 KiB  
Article
Game Analysis on Energy Enterprises’ Digital Transformation—Strategic Simulation for Guiding Role, Leading Role and Following Role
by Pingkuo Liu and Jiahao Wu
Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 9890; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139890 - 21 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1087
Abstract
The aim of this study is to explore the dynamics and impediments in exploring the digital transformation process of energy enterprises, considering industry competition and government involvement. Compared with other industries, energy enterprises have both economic tasks and social responsibilities at the same [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to explore the dynamics and impediments in exploring the digital transformation process of energy enterprises, considering industry competition and government involvement. Compared with other industries, energy enterprises have both economic tasks and social responsibilities at the same time, while their business modes have certain “inertia”. Therefore, the process of their digital transformation cannot avoid the balance of interests between the different agents. From the perspective of competition and cooperation in the sector, this study constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model among the government and energy enterprises, analyzes the evolutionary stable strategies of the game system, and simulates different initial intentions and key parameters for all roles. The results show that in the process of digital transformation, the symbiotic relationship between energy enterprises and the cooperative relationship between enterprises and government can be embodied, and the effective game process has sufficient economic guidance. The government plays the guiding role in the digital transformation of energy enterprises, and its initial intention has a significantly stronger impact than the energy enterprise’s intentions. The effective strategy reflects the principle of “waiting for an opportunity to act, giving priority to efficiency, and giving consideration to justice”. Under the given policy environment, energy enterprises with comparative advantages in terms of transformation costs, direct benefits and synergy will become the leading role that is more sensitive to the opportunities of digital transformation, and the following energy enterprise will adjust its own strategies in time according to the effect of the leading role’s digital transformation so as to achieve the stability of the system. Accordingly, this study can provide reference support for energy enterprises to develop digital transformation strategies and for governments to formulate reasonable and effective policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Sustainable Development of Enterprises through Digital Transformation)
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22 pages, 944 KiB  
Article
The Impact Mechanism of Digitalization on Green Innovation of Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises: An Empirical Study
by Xufang Li, Dijun Fan, Zhuoxuan Li and Mingzhu Pan
Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9637; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129637 - 15 Jun 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2094
Abstract
With the rapid development of the digital economy, promoting green innovation through digitalization has become an important means for manufacturing enterprises to improve their core competitiveness. However, the existing studies focus more on enterprise green technology innovation than green innovation, and the empirical [...] Read more.
With the rapid development of the digital economy, promoting green innovation through digitalization has become an important means for manufacturing enterprises to improve their core competitiveness. However, the existing studies focus more on enterprise green technology innovation than green innovation, and the empirical tests mostly use regional-level data rather than enterprise-level data. This paper empirically examines the impact effect and mechanism of digitalization on green innovation in manufacturing enterprises using a sample of Chinese A-share listed manufacturing enterprises from 2013–2019. It is found that: digitalization significantly promotes the improvement of green innovation level in manufacturing enterprises; digitalization promotes green innovation more prominently in labor-intensive industries and manufacturing enterprises in central China than in capital- or technology-intensive industries and enterprises in eastern China; and digitalization can influence green innovation in manufacturing enterprises through three intermediary channels: promoting enterprise value chain upgrading, empowering industrial structure optimization, and enhancing technological innovation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Sustainable Development of Enterprises through Digital Transformation)
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18 pages, 307 KiB  
Article
Digital Transformation, Green Innovation, and Pollution Abatement: Evidence from China
by Shizhong Peng, Haoran Peng, Shirong Pan and Jun Wu
Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6659; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086659 - 14 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1973
Abstract
The advent of novel and potent digital technologies has substantially transformed ways enterprises undertake their production. How digital transformation will reshape the production model of enterprises and have an impact on pollution emissions is a crucial problem in existing research. In this paper, [...] Read more.
The advent of novel and potent digital technologies has substantially transformed ways enterprises undertake their production. How digital transformation will reshape the production model of enterprises and have an impact on pollution emissions is a crucial problem in existing research. In this paper, we construct a theoretical framework to illuminate the theoretical mechanism of firms employing digital technology to bring out pollution abatement effect. Using a series of firm-level datasets from China, this paper introduces fixed-effect specification to empirically examine the environmental effects triggered by digital transformation. We find a negative effect of digital transformation on firms’ pollution emissions. The results are robust when potential endogeneity and mismeasurement problems are controlled for. Factors related to green innovation and investments in pollution abatement are found to play an important role in shaping the nexus between digital transformation and firm-level pollution emissions. This paper provides supporting firm-level evidence for the pollution abatement effect of digital transformation, which is essential for accelerating the construction of the digital economy, promoting the synergistic effect of digital transformation and green development, and achieving a balanced development of economic growth and environmental governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Sustainable Development of Enterprises through Digital Transformation)
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