Bui My-Trinh, Le Huong-Linh
International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Heliyon. 2023 Mar 2;9(3):e14241. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14241. eCollection 2023 Mar.
Digitalization has facilitated the improvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Firms develop their internal skills to deal with external challenges stemming from the digitalization process and the COVID-19 crisis. Founded on the dynamic capability view, our paper empirically tests how firms utilize their digital and creative capabilities to improve their performance during the pandemic and promote their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. The study conducted a two-step analysis. First, the data from 151 enterprises in Vietnam was collected and analyzed qualitatively to understand their digital capabilities and export performance. Then, the Smart PLS version 3 was utilized to analyze extended quantitative data of 329 SMEs in various industries. This study contributes to the theories of dynamic capability with the implications of developing digital and creative capabilities to enhance performance and CSR differentiation strategy in dealing with external challenges, especially in global pandemics. Firm performance plays a mediating role in the relationship between capabilities and CSR differentiation strategy. Our study also enriches the CSR literature by viewing CSR as firms' achieved targets or voluntary activities instead of as an instrument to boost firm performance. This research provides the background for internationalization researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to face obstacles and overcome barriers, enhance digital and creative capabilities, engage in digital platforms, and benefit from international marketing, international retailing, and CSR activities.
数字化促进了中小企业的发展。企业提升自身内部技能，以应对数字化进程和新冠疫情危机带来的外部挑战。基于动态能力观，本文实证检验了企业如何利用其数字和创新能力在疫情期间提升绩效，并推动其企业社会责任（CSR）活动。该研究进行了两步分析。首先，收集并定性分析了越南151家企业的数据，以了解它们的数字能力和出口绩效。然后，使用Smart PLS 3版本分析了来自不同行业的329家中小企业的扩展定量数据。本研究对动态能力理论有所贡献，其意义在于发展数字和创新能力，以提升绩效和企业社会责任差异化战略，应对外部挑战，尤其是在全球疫情期间。企业绩效在能力与企业社会责任差异化战略之间的关系中起中介作用。我们的研究还通过将企业社会责任视为企业实现的目标或自愿活动，而非提升企业绩效的工具，丰富了企业社会责任文献。本研究为国际化研究人员、政策制定者和从业者提供了背景，以应对障碍、克服壁垒、提升数字和创新能力、参与数字平台，并从国际营销、国际零售和企业社会责任活动中受益。
