Title: Does innovation moderate the relationship between digital facilitators, digital transformation strategies and overall performance of SMEs of UAE?

Authors: Anas Abudaqa; Rashed A. Alzahmi; Hasan Almujaini; Gouher Ahmed

Addresses: Institute of Postgraduate Studies, School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town, 11800 Penang, Malaysia ' College of Business and Economics, UAE University, Al Ain City, UAE ' Institute of Postgraduate Studies, School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town, 11800 Penang, Malaysia ' School of Business, Skyline University College, Sharjah City, UAE

Abstract: This study tests how innovation influences the empirical relationship among digital facilitators, digital transformation strategies and overall performance of manufacturing SMEs in UAE. First, the study found the positive relationship between digital facilitators and overall performance of SMEs. Second, there is a positive link between digital transformation strategies and overall performance of SMEs. Third, the innovation significantly moderates the relationship between digital facilitators and overall performance of SMEs, and digital transformation strategies and overall performance of SMEs. Innovations are pre-requisite of digitalisation as digitalised products are continuing to develop through the reconsolidation of digital objects through the process of innovation.

Keywords: digital transformation; digital facilitators; SMEs performance; innovation; UAE; digital enterprises; SMEs digitalisation; manufacturing SMEs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEV.2022.124964

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2022 Vol.14 No.3, pp.330 - 350

Received: 23 Nov 2020
Accepted: 02 Sep 2021
Published online: 18 Aug 2022 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article