Title: Development of a digitalisation maturity model for small and medium-sized companies

Authors: Mohit Raj; Christoph Ertl; Sebastian Floerecke; Alexander Herzfeldt

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany ' Department of Business Administration, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany ' Chair of Information Systems (Information and IT Service Management), University of Passau, Passau, Germany ' Faculty of Informatics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany

Abstract: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face unique digitalisation challenges due to their specific characteristics. Digital maturity models are proving to be a useful tool in ensuring that digital transformation is carried out securely and effectively. However, most of these models have been developed for large enterprises and are therefore not easily adaptable to SMEs. The aim of this paper is to examine the necessary features that digitalisation maturity models should include for SMEs and to create a digitalisation maturity model that is specifically tailored to their needs by also drawing on existing frameworks. The developed digital maturity model can be used to take a structured look at digitalisation in SMEs using the dimensions, sub-dimensions and level characteristics and to determine the current state of a company's digital maturity. The model can thus provide a common basis for discussion and serve as a platform for identifying potential areas of optimisation.

Keywords: small and medium-sized companies; SMEs; digitalisation; digital transformation; maturity model; design science research.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2024.139272

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2024 Vol.23 No.2, pp.136 - 154

Received: 15 Dec 2023
Accepted: 07 Apr 2024
Published online: 28 Jun 2024 *

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