Possible Research Topics

In the context of the two major issues of managing organizations and firms successfully in these days, a wide range of research opportunities and questions emerge. In the light of several interesting studies and publications in various scientific disciplines and journals, our workshop aims at developing further understanding of a wide range of areas, which consequently offer manifold opportunities for future inquiry, particularly at the crossroads of digitalization and sustainability. Important research questions that may be explored and presented are, for example, the following:

  • Urgent Challenges for SMEs: What are the most pressing issues SMEs face in preparing for a successful future amid new information technologies and the demand for social and environmental sustainability?
  • Governance and Leadership Models: What governance structures and leadership models effectively align digitalization with corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives?
  • Family Firms and Digitalization: How do family firms experience advantages or disadvantages in addressing the dual challenges of digitalization and sustainability?
  • Cross-Sector Collaborations: What role do cross-sector collaborations play in fostering innovation at the intersection of digitalization and sustainability?
  • Digital Upskilling Challenges: What challenges and opportunities arise in digitally upskilling employees to align workforce capabilities with sustainability initiatives?
  • Leveraging Digital Tools for Compliance: How can SMEs utilize digital tools to enhance their responses to environmental regulations and sustainability reporting requirements?
  • Cultural Barriers to Integration: What cultural and organizational barriers hinder the integration of digitalization and sustainability strategies in traditional industries?
  • Balancing Digital Transformation and Sustainability: How do SMEs manage the competing demands of digital transformation and environmental sustainability within their operations?
  • Financial Constraints in Dual Objectives: How can SMEs overcome financial limitations when pursuing both digital transformation and sustainability goals?
  • Government Policies and Incentives: What impact do government policies and incentives have on encouraging SMEs to adopt digital technologies that align with sustainable practices?
  • Impact Measurement of Digital Tools: How does the adoption of digital tools in SMEs contribute to resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact, and how do SMEs measure this impact on their sustainability outcomes?
  • Stakeholder Engagement in Sustainability Efforts: What roles do various stakeholders play in pressuring SMEs to embrace digitalization and sustainability, and how do SMEs engage these stakeholders in collaboration?
  • Industry-Specific Innovations from Digitalization: How do digitalization and sustainability initiatives innovate practices specific to industries related to local territories?
  • Smart Cities as Strategic Alliances: Are smart city or smart region concepts examples of successful strategic alliances in digital and sustainable development, distinguishing them from other forms?

Please note that these are suggestions which are of course not exclusive. In case of doubt regarding the eligibility of your challenges or research ideas please get in touch with us.