⚠ Official Notice: www.ijisrt.com is the official website of the International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT) Journal for research paper submission and publication. Please beware of fake or duplicate websites using the IJISRT name.



Digitalization, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurial Resilience: An Integrative Conceptual Framework for Vulnerable Sectors


Authors : Baazizi Yassine; Fahim Ichraq; Tamanine Reda; Mustapha Jaad

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 7 - July


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/59dendff

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/4j7xupxu

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jul1348

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : Digitalization has become a major driver of entrepreneurial transformation, enabling ventures to improve operational flexibility, information access, innovation capabilities, and responsiveness to external disruptions. These capabilities are particularly relevant in vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, agri-food, and the social and solidarity economy, which face persistent environmental, economic, technological, and institutional challenges. Although previous studies have examined the relationships between digitalization, sustainability, and resilience, these concepts have often been investigated separately. Consequently, the mechanisms through which digital capabilities contribute to sustainabilityoriented entrepreneurial resilience remain insufficiently integrated within the existing literature (Miceli et al., 2021; Isensee et al., 2023; Avelar et al., 2024). This conceptual study develops an integrative framework explaining how digitalization may contribute to entrepreneurial resilience through sustainability-oriented practices. Drawing on the literature on digital transformation, sustainable entrepreneurship, and organizational resilience, the framework identifies two complementary pathways. First, digitalization may directly contribute to entrepreneurial resilience by enhancing agility, coordination, information processing, market adaptation, and business continuity. Second, digitalization may indirectly contribute to resilience by facilitating resource efficiency, environmental responsibility, social inclusion, circular practices, and stakeholder engagement. Sustainability is therefore conceptualized as a theoretical mediating mechanism connecting digital capabilities with long-term entrepreneurial resilience (Ali et al., 2024; Li et al., 2025). The proposed framework is contextualized within vulnerable Moroccan sectors, particularly agriculture, agri-food, and the social and solidarity economy. The study contributes to the literature by integrating previously fragmented research streams and formulating four theoretical propositions for future empirical validation. It also offers theoretical and practical implications for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and support institutions seeking to align digital transformation strategies with sustainability and resilience objectives in emerging economies (Nakpodia et al., 2024; Chen et al., 2025).

Keywords : Digitalization; Digital Transformation; Sustainable Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial Resilience; Sustainabilityoriented Practices; Emerging Economies; Vulnerable Sectors.

References :

  1. Al-Omoush, K., Ribeiro-Navarrete, B., & McDowell, W. C. (2024). The impact of digital corporate social responsibility on social entrepreneurship and organizational resilience. Management Decision, 62(8), 2621–2640.
  2. Ali, S. R., Abbas, M., Qasim, S., & Faraz, M. (2024). Sustainable tech entrepreneurship and green innovation: Driving resilience and environmental impact through digital transformation and circular business models. Bulletin of Multidisciplinary Studies, 1(4), 156–167. https://doi.org/10.48112/bms.v1i4.938
  3. Arifin, M. A., Zakaria, M., & Bustaman, H. A. (2023). Digital adoption, self-efficacy, and business success — towards resilience and sustainability micro-entrepreneurs in the post-pandemic world. Cogent Business & Management, 10(3), 2260128. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2260128
  4. Astuty, E., Sudirman, I. D., & Aryanto, R. (2024). Sustainable resilience strategy: Unleash the micro-businesses’ potential in the digitalization and sustainability era. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1), 2313672. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2313672
  5. Audretsch, D. B., Belitski, M., Caiazza, R., Drapeau, M. D., Menter, M., & Wales, W. J. (2024). Resilience and digitally-advanced entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 36(1–2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2023.2275193
  6. Autio, E., Estrada, G. B., Park, D., Uddin, G. S., & Tan, Y. M. (2024). The nexus between digitalization, entrepreneurial ecosystem quality, and economic resilience: A cross-country analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian Development Bank Economics Working Paper Series, (716).
  7. Avelar, S., Borges-Tiago, T., Almeida, A., & Tiago, F. (2024). Confluence of sustainable entrepreneurship, innovation, and digitalization in SMEs. Journal of Business Research, 170, 114346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114346
  8. Awad, J., & Martín-Rojas, R. (2024). Enhancing social responsibility and resilience through entrepreneurship and digital environment. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 31(3), 1688–1704.
  9. Chen, J., Nawaz, M. A., Tran, T. T. L., & Mirzaliev, S. (2025). Role of digitalization and governance in sustainable entrepreneurship: Evidence from developing economies. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 21(1), 114.
  10. Gavrila Gavrila, S., & De Lucas Ancillo, A. (2022). Entrepreneurship, innovation, digitization and digital transformation toward a sustainable growth within the pandemic environment. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 28(1), 45–66.
  11. Hazudin, S. F., Ahmad Hisni, N. I., Awang Kader, M. A. R., Sabri, M. F., & Abd Aziz, N. N. (2025). Linking digital leadership and entrepreneurial success for development of women-owned businesses in rural Malaysia: Entrepreneurial resilience as a mediator. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 19(6), 1680–1704.
  12. Hokmabadi, H., Rezvani, S. M., & 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.
  13. Isensee, C., Teuteberg, F., & Griese, K. M. (2023). Success factors of organizational resilience: A qualitative investigation of four types of sustainable digital entrepreneurs. Management Decision, 61(5), 1244–1273. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-03-2022-0326
  14. Khlystova, O., & Kalyuzhnova, Y. (2023). The impact of the creative industries and digitalization on regional resilience and productive entrepreneurship. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 48(5), 1654–1695. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-023-10020-2
  15. Khodor, S., Aránega, A. Y., & Ramadani, V. (2024). Impact of digitalization and innovation in women’s entrepreneurial orientation on sustainable start-up intention. Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship, 3(3), 100078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stae.2024.100078
  16. Kumar, V., Sindhwani, R., Behl, A., Kaur, A., & Pereira, V. (2024). Modelling and analysing the enablers of digital resilience for small and medium enterprises. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 37(5), 1677–1708.
  17. Li, R., Zahra, K., Najam, H., & Jia, S. (2025). Examining the role of digitalization and ESG strategies in enhancing resilience and sustainable performance of SMEs. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 21(1), 108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-025-01105-5
  18. Mignenan, V. (2022). Influence of digital transformation on relational capital and digital entrepreneurial resilience. International Business Research, 15(10), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v15n10p16
  19. Miceli, A., Hagen, B., Riccardi, M. P., Sotti, F., & Settembre-Blundo, D. (2021). Thriving, not just surviving in changing times: How sustainability, agility and digitalization intertwine with organizational resilience. Sustainability, 13(4), 2052. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042052
  20. Muchtar, Y. C. (2024). The development of entrepreneurial resilience to support sustainable performance of SMEs by applying financial digital platform. Proceedings of Brawijaya Economics and Finance, 3, 55–63.
  21. Nakpodia, F., Ashiru, F., You, J. J., & Oni, O. (2024). Digital technologies, social entrepreneurship and resilience during crisis in developing countries: Evidence from Nigeria. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 30(2/3), 342–368.
  22. Pennetta, S., Anglani, F., Reaiche, C., & Boyle, S. (2025). Entrepreneurial agility in a disrupted world: Redefining entrepreneurial resilience for global business success. The Journal of Entrepreneurship, 34(2), 221–267. https://doi.org/10.1177/09713557251352283
  23. Rochayatun, S. (2022). Digitalization: Reveal the resilience and sustainability of SMEs in the Covid-19 pandemic. Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Studies, 5(4), 936–943.
  24. Sadeghi, V. J., Garcia Perez, A., Vrontis, D., & Bedford, D. (2024). Digital resilience, new business models and international entrepreneurship in the era of knowledge-economy. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 37(5), 1401–1417. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-09-2024-636
  25. Satalkina, L., & Steiner, G. (2020). Digital entrepreneurship and its role in innovation systems: A systematic literature review as a basis for future research avenues for sustainable transitions. Sustainability, 12(7), 2764.
  26. Saxena, T., Karki, M., Pravesh, J., & Chauhan, B. (2025). Sustainable innovation and resilience in management: The interplay between AI, ICTs, and green entrepreneurship in the digital age. Nepalese Journal of Management Science and Research, 8(1), 144–164.
  27. Sharma, V., Vijayaraghavan, T. A. S., Tata, R. R., & Raj, A. (2024). Strengthening organizational resilience: Role of sustainable supply chain, digitalization and business model adaptation. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 39(11), 2420–2437. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-06-2023-0332
  28. Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
  29. Sudirman, I. D., Astuty, E., & Aryanto, R. (2025). Enhancing digital technology adoption in SMEs through sustainable resilience strategy: Examining the role of entrepreneurial orientation and competencies. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 35(1), 97–114. https://doi.org/10.53703/001c.124907
  30. Torkkeli, L., & Loane, S. (2022). Resilient growth in international entrepreneurship. Small Enterprise Research, 29(3), 199–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/13215906.2022.2146173
  31. Torraco, R. J. (2005). Writing integrative literature reviews: Guidelines and examples. Human Resource Development Review, 4(3), 356–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484305278283
  32. Xia, Q., Xie, Y., Hu, S., & Song, J. (2024). Exploring how entrepreneurial orientation improve firm resilience in digital era: Findings from sequential mediation and FsQCA. European Journal of Innovation Management, 27(1), 96–122.

Digitalization has become a major driver of entrepreneurial transformation, enabling ventures to improve operational flexibility, information access, innovation capabilities, and responsiveness to external disruptions. These capabilities are particularly relevant in vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, agri-food, and the social and solidarity economy, which face persistent environmental, economic, technological, and institutional challenges. Although previous studies have examined the relationships between digitalization, sustainability, and resilience, these concepts have often been investigated separately. Consequently, the mechanisms through which digital capabilities contribute to sustainabilityoriented entrepreneurial resilience remain insufficiently integrated within the existing literature (Miceli et al., 2021; Isensee et al., 2023; Avelar et al., 2024). This conceptual study develops an integrative framework explaining how digitalization may contribute to entrepreneurial resilience through sustainability-oriented practices. Drawing on the literature on digital transformation, sustainable entrepreneurship, and organizational resilience, the framework identifies two complementary pathways. First, digitalization may directly contribute to entrepreneurial resilience by enhancing agility, coordination, information processing, market adaptation, and business continuity. Second, digitalization may indirectly contribute to resilience by facilitating resource efficiency, environmental responsibility, social inclusion, circular practices, and stakeholder engagement. Sustainability is therefore conceptualized as a theoretical mediating mechanism connecting digital capabilities with long-term entrepreneurial resilience (Ali et al., 2024; Li et al., 2025). The proposed framework is contextualized within vulnerable Moroccan sectors, particularly agriculture, agri-food, and the social and solidarity economy. The study contributes to the literature by integrating previously fragmented research streams and formulating four theoretical propositions for future empirical validation. It also offers theoretical and practical implications for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and support institutions seeking to align digital transformation strategies with sustainability and resilience objectives in emerging economies (Nakpodia et al., 2024; Chen et al., 2025).

Keywords : Digitalization; Digital Transformation; Sustainable Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial Resilience; Sustainabilityoriented Practices; Emerging Economies; Vulnerable Sectors.

Paper Submission Last Date
31 - August - 2026

SUBMIT YOUR PAPER CALL FOR PAPERS
Video Explanation for Published paper

Never miss an update from Papermashup

Get notified about the latest tutorials and downloads.

Subscribe by Email

Get alerts directly into your inbox after each post and stay updated.
Subscribe
OR

Subscribe by RSS

Add our RSS to your feedreader to get regular updates from us.
Subscribe