Fatores de impacto e grau de maturidade digital das PMEs portuguesas

Abstract

The global crisis triggered by Covid-19 has brought about profound changes in the Portuguese economy and business environment, compelling Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to reassess their operations and survival strategies. Digital Transformation (DT) has emerged as a crucial solution to address the new challenges and capitalize on the opportunities presented by this new context. The aim of this process is to drive innovation, enhance agility, and maintain competitiveness in the constantly evolving digital market. In this regard, two methods were employed: qualitative and quantitative, to answer the following question - What are the factors impacting DT and what is the level of DT among Portuguese SMEs? Thus, through conducting 13 interviews and analyzing survey data collected from various Portuguese SMEs, answers were provided to the question in question. The primary objective of this analysis was to understand the current level of development and capability of Portuguese SMEs in effectively utilizing digital technology to achieve their objectives. Based on the studies, a positive relationship was found between the size of a company and the level of DT in most economic sectors, with companies in the tertiary sector achieving a higher level of DT. On average, the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML) exhibited a higher level of DT compared to the North and Central regions of the country.

Date of Award	16 Jul 2024
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Rita Ribeiro (Supervisor)