Critical Success Factors in Digital Transformation Processes A Systematic Literature Review
Main Article Content
Keywords
Digital transformation, Critical success factors, sociotechnical process, leadership, change management
Abstract
This paper examines digital transformation as a systemic and strategic process that redefines how organisations operate, interact and sustain themselves. It addresses the relevance of integrating technical or technological, human/social and organisational dimensions in understanding transformation outcomes. The study tackles the conceptual and methodological fragmentation in current literature which hinders the identification of comprehensive success factors. It discusses the key technological, human/social and organisational factors that determine the success of digital transformation when analysed holistically. The novelty lies in integrating the three dimensions into a unified analytical framework – an approach rarely explored comprehensively – bridging theoretical gaps and practical limitations. A systematic literature review was conducted under the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, selecting and analysing empirical and theoretical studies from diverse sectors and contexts. Results demonstrated that no factor operates in isolation; their coherent articulation is essential for achieving effective and sustainable digital transformation. This study concludes that context-sensitive interpretive frameworks are necessary for moving beyond an instrumental view of digitalisation. The implications call for coordinated action among policymakers, managers and stakeholders to enhance the impact and sustainability of digital strategies.
References
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Faisal-E-Alam, Md., Bhuiyan, M. R. I., Mimi, A., & Miah, Md. T. (2025). The role of the three zero framework in advancing global sustainable development through bibliometric and text mining analysis. Discover Sustainability, 6(1), 1128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01919-x
Ferreira Daxbacher, E., Romero de Lemos Meira, S., & Castelo Branco Soares, S. (2024). Fatores críticos de sucesso em projetos de transformação digital na indústria automobilística brasileira um estudo qualitativo. International Journal of Innovation, 12(1), 1–44. https://doi.org/10.5585/2024.25479
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Hokmabadi, H., Rezvani, S. M. H. S., & de Matos, C. A. (2024). Business resilience for small and medium enterprises and startups by digital transformation and the role of marketing capabilities – a systematic review. Systems, 12(6), 220. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems12060220
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Karekla, M., Pollalis, Y., & Angelopoulos, M. (2021). Key drivers of digital transformation in Greek businesses: Strategy vs. technology. Central European Management Journal, 29(2), 33–62. https://doi.org/10.7206/cemj.2658-0845.45
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Kumar, P., Bhamu, J., & Sangwan, K. S. (2021). Analysis of barriers to Industry 4.0 adoption in manufacturing organizations: An ISM approach. Procedia CIRP, 98, 85–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2021.01.010
Leso, B. H., Cortimiglia, M. N., & Ghezzi, A. (2023). The contribution of organizational culture, structure, and leadership factors in the digital transformation of SMEs: a mixed-methods approach. Cognition, Technology & Work, 25(1), 151–179. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-022-00714-2
Martin-Martin, D., Garcia, J. M., & Romero, I. (2022). Determinants of digital transformation in the restaurant industry. Amfiteatru Economic, 24(60), 430. https://doi.org/10.24818/EA/2022/60/430
Morakanyane, R., O’Reilly, P., McAvoy, J., & Grace, A. (2020). Determining digital transformation success factors. 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. https://doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2020.532
Naji, K. K., Gunduz, M., Alhenzab, F. H., Al-Hababi, H., & Al-Qahtani, A. H. (2024). A systematic review of the digital transformation of the building construction industry. IEEE Access, 12, 31461–31487. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3365934
Nikopoulou, M., Kourouthanassis, P., Chasapi, G., Pateli, A., & Mylonas, N. (2023). Determinants of digital transformation in the hospitality industry: Technological, organizational, and environmental drivers. Sustainability, 15(3), 2736. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032736
Oyekunle, D., & Boohene, D. (2024). Digital transformation potential: The role of artificial intelligence in business. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 9(3), e04499. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2024.v9i3.4499
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. International Journal of Surgery, 88, 105906. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJSU.2021.105906
Panetto, H., Zdravkovic, M., Jardim-Goncalves, R., Romero, D., Cecil, J., & Mezgár, I. (2016). New perspectives for the future interoperable enterprise systems. Computers in Industry, 79, 47–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2015.08.001
Park, I., Kim, D., Moon, J., Kim, S., Kang, Y., & Bae, S. (2022). Searching for new technology acceptance model under social context: Analyzing the determinants of acceptance of intelligent information technology in digital transformation and implications for the requisites of digital sustainability. Sustainability, 14(1), 579. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010579
Pasqual, G., Jung, J., & Fraunholz, B. (2023). Determining critical success factors of the digital transformation using a force-directed network graph. Complex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly, (37), 22–53. https://doi.org/10.7250/csimq.2023-37.02
Pfaff, Y. M., Wohlleber, A. J., Münch, C., Küffner, C., & Hartmann, E. (2023). How digital transformation impacts organizational culture–A multi-hierarchical perspective on the manufacturing sector. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 183, 109432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2023.109432
Philippart, M. H. (2022). Success factors to deliver organizational digital transformation. A framework for transformation leadership. Journal of Global Information Management, 30(8), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.4018/JGIM.304068
Porfírio, J. A., Carrilho, T., Felício, J. A., & Jardim, J. (2021). Leadership characteristics and digital transformation. Journal of Business Research, 124, 610–619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.10.058
Purnomo, S., Nurmalitasari, N., & Nurchim, N. (2024). Digital transformation of MSMEs in Indonesia: A systematic literature review. Journal of Management and Digital Business, 4(2), 301–312. https://doi.org/10.53088/jmdb.v4i2.1121
Reis, J., Amorim, M., Melão, N., & Matos, P. (2018). Digital transformation: A literature review and guidelines for future research. World conference on information systems and technologies, 411–421. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77703-0_41
Romero, I., & Mammadov, H. (2025). Digital Transformation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises as an Innovation Process: A Holistic Study of its Determinants. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 16(2), 8496–8523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-02217-z
Sahu, N., Deng, H., & Mollah, A. (2018). Investigating The critical success factors of digital transformation for improving customer experience. CONF-IRM 2018 Proceedings. https://aisel.aisnet.org/confirm2018/18/
Strilchuk, Y., Krasnova, I., Khodakevich, S., Metsger, I., Stryzhak, A., & Dubas, A. (2024). Sustainable development determinants in the context of digital transformation. Financial and Credit Activity Problems of Theory and Practice, 3(56), 293–307. https://doi.org/10.55643/fcaptp.3.56.2024.4367
Ta, V. A., & Lin, C.-Y. (2023). Exploring the determinants of digital transformation adoption for SMEs in an emerging economy. Sustainability, 15(9), 7093. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097093
Thi Thu Thuy, N., Pham Thi Thanh, H., Thi Bich Ngoc, T., & Tran Si, L. (2023). Determinants of employee digital transformation readiness and job performance: A case of SMEs in Vietnam. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 21(4), 226–239. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.21(4).2023.18
Wang, D., & Shao, X. (2024). Research on the impact of digital transformation on the production efficiency of manufacturing enterprises: Institution-based analysis of the threshold effect. International Review of Economics & Finance, 91, 883–897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2024.01.046
Zhu, K., Dong, S., Xu, S. X., & Kraemer, K. L. (2017). Innovation diffusion in global contexts: determinants of post-adoption digital transformation of European companies. European Journal of Information Systems, 15(6), 601–616. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ejis.3000650
Ali, A. U., & Hasanah, U. (2024). Adaptation of organizational culture in supporting digital transformation in accounting. Jurnal Mutiara Manajemen, 9(2), 167–178. https://doi.org/10.51544/jmm.v9i2.5580
Asubiaro, T., Onaolapo, S., & Mills, D. (2024). Regional disparities in Web of Science and Scopus journal coverage. Scientometrics, 129(3), 1469–1491. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-024-04948-x
Bhuiyan, M. R. I., Faraji, M. R., Rashid, M., Bhuyan, K., Hossain, R., & Ghose, P. (2024). Digital transformation in SMEs emerging technological tools and technologies for enhancing the SME’s strategies and outcomes. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(4), 211–224. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=1271910
Carujo, S., Anunciação, P. F., & Santos, J. R. (2022). The project management approach. A critical success factor in digital transformation initiatives. Economics and Culture, 19(1), 64–74. https://doi.org/10.2478/jec-2022-0006
Chu, M., Li, B., & Yu, X. (2023). Identification of key factors of digital transformation of manufacturing companies using hybrid DEMATEL method. Decision Making: Applications in Management and Engineering, 7(1), 380–395. https://doi.org/10.31181/dmame712024931
Cui, J. (2025). Exploring the impact of digital leadership and green digital innovation on corporate digital transformation. Journal of Current Social Issues Studies, 2(4), 215–220. https://doi.org/10.71113/JCSIS.v2i4.229
Faisal-E-Alam, Md., Bhuiyan, M. R. I., Mimi, A., & Miah, Md. T. (2025). The role of the three zero framework in advancing global sustainable development through bibliometric and text mining analysis. Discover Sustainability, 6(1), 1128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01919-x
Ferreira Daxbacher, E., Romero de Lemos Meira, S., & Castelo Branco Soares, S. (2024). Fatores críticos de sucesso em projetos de transformação digital na indústria automobilística brasileira um estudo qualitativo. International Journal of Innovation, 12(1), 1–44. https://doi.org/10.5585/2024.25479
Gupta, S., Modgil, S., Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, A. B., Laguir, I., & Stekelorum, R. (2025). Towards digital transformation and governance in the healthcare sector. Information Technology & People, 38(5), 2163–2186. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-02-2023-0179
Hokmabadi, H., Rezvani, S. M. H. S., & de Matos, C. A. (2024). Business resilience for small and medium enterprises and startups by digital transformation and the role of marketing capabilities – a systematic review. Systems, 12(6), 220. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems12060220
Juodžentė, D., Burbaitė, E., Stankevičius, R., Karvelienė, B., Rudejevienė, J., & Daunorienė, A. (2024). Veterinary telemedicine in Lithuania: Analysis of the current market, animal owner knowledge, and success factors for digital transformation of clinics. Animals, 14(13), 1912. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14131912
Karekla, M., Pollalis, Y., & Angelopoulos, M. (2021). Key drivers of digital transformation in Greek businesses: Strategy vs. technology. Central European Management Journal, 29(2), 33–62. https://doi.org/10.7206/cemj.2658-0845.45
Khatun, M., Hossain, R., Bhuiyan, M. R. I., Tabassum, Mst. N., & Riaj, Md. A. J. (2024). Green entrepreneurship and digital transformation for sustainable development. In K. Mouloudj & A. C. Bouarar (Eds.), Digitizing Green Entrepreneurship (pp. 153–180). https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-7442-9.ch006
Krchová, H., & Höesová, K. Š. (2021). Selected determinants of digital transformation and their influence on the number of women in the ICT sector. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 8(4), 524–535. https://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2021.8.4(31)
Kumar, P., Bhamu, J., & Sangwan, K. S. (2021). Analysis of barriers to Industry 4.0 adoption in manufacturing organizations: An ISM approach. Procedia CIRP, 98, 85–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2021.01.010
Leso, B. H., Cortimiglia, M. N., & Ghezzi, A. (2023). The contribution of organizational culture, structure, and leadership factors in the digital transformation of SMEs: a mixed-methods approach. Cognition, Technology & Work, 25(1), 151–179. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-022-00714-2
Martin-Martin, D., Garcia, J. M., & Romero, I. (2022). Determinants of digital transformation in the restaurant industry. Amfiteatru Economic, 24(60), 430. https://doi.org/10.24818/EA/2022/60/430
Morakanyane, R., O’Reilly, P., McAvoy, J., & Grace, A. (2020). Determining digital transformation success factors. 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. https://doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2020.532
Naji, K. K., Gunduz, M., Alhenzab, F. H., Al-Hababi, H., & Al-Qahtani, A. H. (2024). A systematic review of the digital transformation of the building construction industry. IEEE Access, 12, 31461–31487. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3365934
Nikopoulou, M., Kourouthanassis, P., Chasapi, G., Pateli, A., & Mylonas, N. (2023). Determinants of digital transformation in the hospitality industry: Technological, organizational, and environmental drivers. Sustainability, 15(3), 2736. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032736
Oyekunle, D., & Boohene, D. (2024). Digital transformation potential: The role of artificial intelligence in business. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 9(3), e04499. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2024.v9i3.4499
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. International Journal of Surgery, 88, 105906. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJSU.2021.105906
Panetto, H., Zdravkovic, M., Jardim-Goncalves, R., Romero, D., Cecil, J., & Mezgár, I. (2016). New perspectives for the future interoperable enterprise systems. Computers in Industry, 79, 47–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2015.08.001
Park, I., Kim, D., Moon, J., Kim, S., Kang, Y., & Bae, S. (2022). Searching for new technology acceptance model under social context: Analyzing the determinants of acceptance of intelligent information technology in digital transformation and implications for the requisites of digital sustainability. Sustainability, 14(1), 579. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010579
Pasqual, G., Jung, J., & Fraunholz, B. (2023). Determining critical success factors of the digital transformation using a force-directed network graph. Complex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly, (37), 22–53. https://doi.org/10.7250/csimq.2023-37.02
Pfaff, Y. M., Wohlleber, A. J., Münch, C., Küffner, C., & Hartmann, E. (2023). How digital transformation impacts organizational culture–A multi-hierarchical perspective on the manufacturing sector. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 183, 109432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2023.109432
Philippart, M. H. (2022). Success factors to deliver organizational digital transformation. A framework for transformation leadership. Journal of Global Information Management, 30(8), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.4018/JGIM.304068
Porfírio, J. A., Carrilho, T., Felício, J. A., & Jardim, J. (2021). Leadership characteristics and digital transformation. Journal of Business Research, 124, 610–619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.10.058
Purnomo, S., Nurmalitasari, N., & Nurchim, N. (2024). Digital transformation of MSMEs in Indonesia: A systematic literature review. Journal of Management and Digital Business, 4(2), 301–312. https://doi.org/10.53088/jmdb.v4i2.1121
Reis, J., Amorim, M., Melão, N., & Matos, P. (2018). Digital transformation: A literature review and guidelines for future research. World conference on information systems and technologies, 411–421. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77703-0_41
Romero, I., & Mammadov, H. (2025). Digital Transformation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises as an Innovation Process: A Holistic Study of its Determinants. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 16(2), 8496–8523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-02217-z
Sahu, N., Deng, H., & Mollah, A. (2018). Investigating The critical success factors of digital transformation for improving customer experience. CONF-IRM 2018 Proceedings. https://aisel.aisnet.org/confirm2018/18/
Strilchuk, Y., Krasnova, I., Khodakevich, S., Metsger, I., Stryzhak, A., & Dubas, A. (2024). Sustainable development determinants in the context of digital transformation. Financial and Credit Activity Problems of Theory and Practice, 3(56), 293–307. https://doi.org/10.55643/fcaptp.3.56.2024.4367
Ta, V. A., & Lin, C.-Y. (2023). Exploring the determinants of digital transformation adoption for SMEs in an emerging economy. Sustainability, 15(9), 7093. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097093
Thi Thu Thuy, N., Pham Thi Thanh, H., Thi Bich Ngoc, T., & Tran Si, L. (2023). Determinants of employee digital transformation readiness and job performance: A case of SMEs in Vietnam. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 21(4), 226–239. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.21(4).2023.18
Wang, D., & Shao, X. (2024). Research on the impact of digital transformation on the production efficiency of manufacturing enterprises: Institution-based analysis of the threshold effect. International Review of Economics & Finance, 91, 883–897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2024.01.046
Zhu, K., Dong, S., Xu, S. X., & Kraemer, K. L. (2017). Innovation diffusion in global contexts: determinants of post-adoption digital transformation of European companies. European Journal of Information Systems, 15(6), 601–616. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ejis.3000650
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2026-03-30
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Patiño-Toro, O. N., Tamayo Duque, E. A., Rodríguez-Correa, P. A., & Valencia-Arias, A. (2026). Critical Success Factors in Digital Transformation Processes: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 14(1), 88-108. https://doi.org/10.18080/jtde.v14n1.1383
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Author Biographies
Orfa Nidia Patiño-Toro, Universidad EAFIT- Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Colombia
Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Colombia, 50010, orfapatino@itm.edu.co
ORCID: 0000-0001-8729-2138.
Escuela de Administración, Universidad EAFIT, Colombia, 50022, onpatino@eafit.edu.co
Edward Andrés Tamayo Duque, Área de Gestión Global, Universidad EAFIT, Colombia
Área de Gestión Global, Universidad EAFIT, Colombia, 50022, eatamayo@eafit.edu.co
ORCID: 0000-0002-7407-6775
Paula Andrea Rodríguez-Correa, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Colombia
Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Colombia, 50010, paularodriguez229987@correo.itm.edu.co
ORCID: 0000-0002-9748-0148
Alejandro Valencia-Arias, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y postgrado, Universidad de Los Lagos, Chile
Vicerrectoría de Investigación y postgrado, Universidad de Los Lagos, Chile, 5290000, javalenciar@gmail.com
ORCID: 0000-0001-9434-6923
How to Cite
Patiño-Toro, O. N., Tamayo Duque, E. A., Rodríguez-Correa, P. A., & Valencia-Arias, A. (2026). Critical Success Factors in Digital Transformation Processes: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 14(1), 88-108. https://doi.org/10.18080/jtde.v14n1.1383
