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An Analysis of Digital Transformation in Knowledge-Intensive Micro-SMEs in Saudi Arabia / HAIFA ALHARBI

Swansea University Author: HAIFA ALHARBI

  • E-Thesis under embargo until: 19th November 2030

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.71168

Abstract

Digital transformation (DT) plays a vital role in business success, particularly for the smallest form of knowledge-based small and medium-sized enterprises, known as knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs. As technology accelerates and the business landscape evolves, knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs increasi...

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Published: Swansea 2025
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Jones, P., Doneddu, D., and Cotterell, D.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71168
first_indexed 2025-12-23T11:00:16Z
last_indexed 2025-12-24T05:22:56Z
id cronfa71168
recordtype RisThesis
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Additionally, rapid advances in digital technology continue to drive DT across industries, requiring businesses to adapt continuously to ensure long-term growth. Despite the increasing importance of DT, major research gaps remain regarding DT adoption, particularly in relation to knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in developing countries. These gaps are especially evident in the context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with studies predominantly focusing on large businesses, leaving micro-SMEs underexplored.Given that the KSA government is pushing a transition towards a knowledge-based economy, understanding DT adoption by knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs operating in the KSA is important. In light of these issues and gaps, this thesis contributes to the literature by evaluating DT adoption among knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in the KSA. The thesis is theoretically grounded in the triple helix model, institutional theory, and the resource-based view (RBV). It draws on these theories to provide a comprehensive understanding of DT adoption by critically examining the drivers, inhibitors, and key elements of the external environment that influence this process.The qualitative study underpinning this thesis is based on semi-structured interviews with owner-manager entrepreneurs (OMEs) of knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in the KSA, as well as key actors from the KSA&#x2019;s government, industry, and university institutions. The data were analysed using the reflexive thematic analysis method. The findings reveal the inhibitors of DT adoption, including a lack of information technology (IT) skills, inadequate financing, a lack of innovation, the OME mindset, and gender, as well as regulatory difficulties and a weak IT infrastructure. Drivers include the OME background, the advantages of technology, Saudi Vision 2030,consumer behaviour, and global crises such as Covid-19. Crucially, the thesis also identifies key elements within the external environment, including the need to enhance collaboration between ecosystem actors and knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs, foster an entrepreneurial culture, improve the technical infrastructure, and strengthen support mechanisms. This thesis enhances the understanding of DT adoption among knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs by offering both theoretical and contextual contributions. Theoretically, it extends the RBV, institutional theory, and the triple helix model by showing how internal resources and external sociocultural, institutional, and ecosystem dynamics shape DT in knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs.Contextually, it provides insights into DT adoption among knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in a developing country, offering implications for practitioners and policymakers.</abstract><type>E-Thesis</type><journal/><volume/><journalNumber/><paginationStart/><paginationEnd/><publisher/><placeOfPublication>Swansea</placeOfPublication><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic/><keywords>digital transformation (DT), knowledge-intensive micro small and medium-sized enterprises (knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), innovation ecosystem (IE), entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE)</keywords><publishedDay>19</publishedDay><publishedMonth>11</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2025</publishedYear><publishedDate>2025-11-19</publishedDate><doi>10.23889/SUThesis.71168</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><supervisor>Jones, P., Doneddu, D., and Cotterell, D.</supervisor><degreelevel>Doctoral</degreelevel><degreename>Ph.D</degreename><degreesponsorsfunders>Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University</degreesponsorsfunders><apcterm/><funders>Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-12-23T11:07:56.1780077</lastEdited><Created>2025-12-23T10:33:32.6601001</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences</level><level id="2">School of Management - Business Management</level></path><authors><author><firstname>HAIFA</firstname><surname>ALHARBI</surname><order>1</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>Under embargo</filename><originalFilename>Under embargo</originalFilename><uploaded>2025-12-23T10:59:14.0814492</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>3798812</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>E-Thesis</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><embargoDate>2030-11-19T00:00:00.0000000</embargoDate><documentNotes>Copyright: the author, Haifa Salman Alharbi, 2025. 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spelling 2025-12-23T11:07:56.1780077 v2 71168 2025-12-23 An Analysis of Digital Transformation in Knowledge-Intensive Micro-SMEs in Saudi Arabia 03fcc76b2b2053db33cf02a8c6d8ad83 HAIFA ALHARBI HAIFA ALHARBI true false 2025-12-23 Digital transformation (DT) plays a vital role in business success, particularly for the smallest form of knowledge-based small and medium-sized enterprises, known as knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs. As technology accelerates and the business landscape evolves, knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs increasingly adopt DT to remain competitive. However, DT adoption entails disruptive changes that reshape businesses, sometimes rendering existing models or processes obsolete. Additionally, rapid advances in digital technology continue to drive DT across industries, requiring businesses to adapt continuously to ensure long-term growth. Despite the increasing importance of DT, major research gaps remain regarding DT adoption, particularly in relation to knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in developing countries. These gaps are especially evident in the context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with studies predominantly focusing on large businesses, leaving micro-SMEs underexplored.Given that the KSA government is pushing a transition towards a knowledge-based economy, understanding DT adoption by knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs operating in the KSA is important. In light of these issues and gaps, this thesis contributes to the literature by evaluating DT adoption among knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in the KSA. The thesis is theoretically grounded in the triple helix model, institutional theory, and the resource-based view (RBV). It draws on these theories to provide a comprehensive understanding of DT adoption by critically examining the drivers, inhibitors, and key elements of the external environment that influence this process.The qualitative study underpinning this thesis is based on semi-structured interviews with owner-manager entrepreneurs (OMEs) of knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in the KSA, as well as key actors from the KSA’s government, industry, and university institutions. The data were analysed using the reflexive thematic analysis method. The findings reveal the inhibitors of DT adoption, including a lack of information technology (IT) skills, inadequate financing, a lack of innovation, the OME mindset, and gender, as well as regulatory difficulties and a weak IT infrastructure. Drivers include the OME background, the advantages of technology, Saudi Vision 2030,consumer behaviour, and global crises such as Covid-19. Crucially, the thesis also identifies key elements within the external environment, including the need to enhance collaboration between ecosystem actors and knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs, foster an entrepreneurial culture, improve the technical infrastructure, and strengthen support mechanisms. This thesis enhances the understanding of DT adoption among knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs by offering both theoretical and contextual contributions. Theoretically, it extends the RBV, institutional theory, and the triple helix model by showing how internal resources and external sociocultural, institutional, and ecosystem dynamics shape DT in knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs.Contextually, it provides insights into DT adoption among knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in a developing country, offering implications for practitioners and policymakers. E-Thesis Swansea digital transformation (DT), knowledge-intensive micro small and medium-sized enterprises (knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), innovation ecosystem (IE), entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) 19 11 2025 2025-11-19 10.23889/SUThesis.71168 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Jones, P., Doneddu, D., and Cotterell, D. Doctoral Ph.D Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University 2025-12-23T11:07:56.1780077 2025-12-23T10:33:32.6601001 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Management - Business Management HAIFA ALHARBI 1 Under embargo Under embargo 2025-12-23T10:59:14.0814492 Output 3798812 application/pdf E-Thesis true 2030-11-19T00:00:00.0000000 Copyright: the author, Haifa Salman Alharbi, 2025. Distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
title An Analysis of Digital Transformation in Knowledge-Intensive Micro-SMEs in Saudi Arabia
spellingShingle An Analysis of Digital Transformation in Knowledge-Intensive Micro-SMEs in Saudi Arabia
HAIFA ALHARBI
title_short An Analysis of Digital Transformation in Knowledge-Intensive Micro-SMEs in Saudi Arabia
title_full An Analysis of Digital Transformation in Knowledge-Intensive Micro-SMEs in Saudi Arabia
title_fullStr An Analysis of Digital Transformation in Knowledge-Intensive Micro-SMEs in Saudi Arabia
title_full_unstemmed An Analysis of Digital Transformation in Knowledge-Intensive Micro-SMEs in Saudi Arabia
title_sort An Analysis of Digital Transformation in Knowledge-Intensive Micro-SMEs in Saudi Arabia
author_id_str_mv 03fcc76b2b2053db33cf02a8c6d8ad83
author_id_fullname_str_mv 03fcc76b2b2053db33cf02a8c6d8ad83_***_HAIFA ALHARBI
author HAIFA ALHARBI
author2 HAIFA ALHARBI
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publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUThesis.71168
college_str Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
department_str School of Management - Business Management{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Management - Business Management
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description Digital transformation (DT) plays a vital role in business success, particularly for the smallest form of knowledge-based small and medium-sized enterprises, known as knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs. As technology accelerates and the business landscape evolves, knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs increasingly adopt DT to remain competitive. However, DT adoption entails disruptive changes that reshape businesses, sometimes rendering existing models or processes obsolete. Additionally, rapid advances in digital technology continue to drive DT across industries, requiring businesses to adapt continuously to ensure long-term growth. Despite the increasing importance of DT, major research gaps remain regarding DT adoption, particularly in relation to knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in developing countries. These gaps are especially evident in the context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with studies predominantly focusing on large businesses, leaving micro-SMEs underexplored.Given that the KSA government is pushing a transition towards a knowledge-based economy, understanding DT adoption by knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs operating in the KSA is important. In light of these issues and gaps, this thesis contributes to the literature by evaluating DT adoption among knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in the KSA. The thesis is theoretically grounded in the triple helix model, institutional theory, and the resource-based view (RBV). It draws on these theories to provide a comprehensive understanding of DT adoption by critically examining the drivers, inhibitors, and key elements of the external environment that influence this process.The qualitative study underpinning this thesis is based on semi-structured interviews with owner-manager entrepreneurs (OMEs) of knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in the KSA, as well as key actors from the KSA’s government, industry, and university institutions. The data were analysed using the reflexive thematic analysis method. The findings reveal the inhibitors of DT adoption, including a lack of information technology (IT) skills, inadequate financing, a lack of innovation, the OME mindset, and gender, as well as regulatory difficulties and a weak IT infrastructure. Drivers include the OME background, the advantages of technology, Saudi Vision 2030,consumer behaviour, and global crises such as Covid-19. Crucially, the thesis also identifies key elements within the external environment, including the need to enhance collaboration between ecosystem actors and knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs, foster an entrepreneurial culture, improve the technical infrastructure, and strengthen support mechanisms. This thesis enhances the understanding of DT adoption among knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs by offering both theoretical and contextual contributions. Theoretically, it extends the RBV, institutional theory, and the triple helix model by showing how internal resources and external sociocultural, institutional, and ecosystem dynamics shape DT in knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs.Contextually, it provides insights into DT adoption among knowledge-intensive micro-SMEs in a developing country, offering implications for practitioners and policymakers.
published_date 2025-11-19T05:33:24Z
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