Supporting pervasive digitization in Italian SMEs through an open innovation process

Abstract

This chapter aims at shedding a light on designing and implementing digital transformation and, in particular, on how to promote digital transformation initiatives in ways that benefit individuals and organizations as well as the broader society. The focus is on how Italian SMEs can handle the adoption of digital technologies given their resource constraints. Based on the outcomes of a 2019 project based on an action research initiative, we argue that using open innovation practices may accelerate digital transformation and increase innovation development, and thus help firms to establish new sustainable strategies. Based on within-case as well as cross-case pattern analysis, we find that the adoption of digital technologies in SMEs has to be guided to benefit all stakeholders. Moreover, we identify specific enablers (and barriers) that accelerate (or impede) the advancement of the process of adopting digital technologies.