Exploring the integration of sustainability and digital transformation as an organizational strategy: a systematic literature review and guidance for future research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5902/1983465990162Keywords:
Sustainability, Digital transformation, Organizational strategy, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Purpose – Digital Transformation (DT) and sustainability have attracted significant interest from researchers and professionals, sparking debates about their interaction. However, the literature still lacks a comprehensive analysis of this connection. This study examines the relationship between DT and sustainability, aiming to fill this gap and provide a holistic view of these interactions.
Design/methodology/approach – A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted based on the protocol of Tranfield, Denyer, and Smart (2003), analyzing academic studies that discuss the interaction between DT and sustainability.
Findings – The results highlight that DT is crucial in advancing corporate sustainability goals by streamlining administrative processes, enhancing efficiency, boosting competitiveness, and driving innovation.
Originality/value – This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the interaction between DT and sustainability, proposes a future research agenda, and provides valuable insights for companies and researchers interested in exploring these synergies.
Downloads
References
Aria, M., & Cuccurullo, C. (2017). bibliometrix : An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007
–975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007
Arruda, H., Silva, E. R., Lessa, M., Proença Jr., D., & Bartholo, R. (2022). VOSviewer and Bibliometrix. Journal of the Medical Library DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2022.1434
Association, 110(3), 392–395. https://doi.org/10.5195%2Fjmla.2022.1434 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2022.1434
Avesani, M. (2020). Sustainability, sustainable development, and business sustainability. In Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment for DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818355-7.00002-6
Decision-Making (pp. 21-38). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818355-7.00002-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818355-7.00002-6
Barykin, S. E., Sergeev, S. M., Kapustina, I. V., Fedotov, A. A., Matchinov, V. A., Plaza, E. D. L. P., Mottaeva, A. B., Sharkova, A. V., Borisova,
A. Y., & Karmanova, A. E. (2023). Environmental Sustainability and Digital Transformation of Socio-Economic: Quality of Life Perspective.
Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management. https://doi.org/10.1142/S1464333223500011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S1464333223500011
Baumgartner, R. J., & Rauter, R. (2017). Strategic perspectives of corporate sustainability management to develop a sustainable DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.146
organization. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.146 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.146
Ben-Zvi, T., & Luftman, J. (2022). Post-Pandemic IT: Digital Transformation and Sustainability. Sustainability, 14(22), 15275. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215275
https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215275 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215275
Bocken, N. M., & Geradts, T. H. (2020). Barriers and drivers to sustainable business model innovation: Organization design and dynamic DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2019.101950
capabilities. Long range planning, 53(4), 101950. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2019.101950 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2019.101950
Camodeca, R., & Almici, A. (2021). Digital Transformation and Convergence toward the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainability Development Goals: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111831
Evidence from Italian Listed Firms. Sustainability, 13(21), 11831. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111831 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111831
Casciani, D., Chkanikova, O., & Pal, R. (2022). Exploring the nature of digital transformation in the fashion industry: opportunities for
supply chains, business models, and sustainability-oriented innovations. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 18(1), 773-795.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2022.2125640 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2022.2125640
Colabi, A. M., & Sharaei, F., & Alipour, S. (2022). The relationship between Gamification and Sustainability of small and medium
enterprise: Explaining the role of digital transformation in open innovation and value co-creation. Journal of Information Technology
Management, 14 (4), 118-137.https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215436 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215436
Costa, I., Riccotta, R., Montini, P., Stefani, E., de Souza Goes, R., Gaspar, M. A., Martins, F. S., Fernandes, A. A., Machado, C., Loçano, R., &
Larieira, C. L. C. (2022). The Degree of Contribution of Digital Transformation Technology on Company Sustainability Areas.
Sustainability, 14(1), 462. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010462 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010462
El Hilali, W., El Manouar, A., & Janati Idrissi, M. A. (2020). Reaching sustainability during a digital transformation: a PLS approach. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-08-2019-0083
International Journal of Innovation Science, 12(1), 52–79. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-08-2019-0083 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-08-2019-0083
Esses, D., Csete, M. S., & Németh, B. (2021). Sustainability and Digital Transformation in the Visegrad Group of Central European DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115833
Countries. Sustainability, 13(11), 5833. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115833 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115833
Feroz, A. K., Zo, H., & Chiravuri, A. (2021). Digital Transformation and Environmental Sustainability: A Review and Research Agenda. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031530
Sustainability, 13(3), 1530. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031530 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031530
Fernández-Rovira, C., Valdés, J. Á., Molleví, G., & Nicolas-Sans, R. (2021). The digital transformation of business. Towards the datafication
of the relationship with customers. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 162, 120339.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120339 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120339
Fonseca, L. M., Domingues, J. P., & Dima, A. M. (2020). Mapping the sustainable development goals relationships. Sustainability, 12(8), DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083359
https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083359 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083359
Ghobakhloo, M. (2020). Industry 4.0, digitization, and opportunities for sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 252, 119869. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119869
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119869 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119869
Gong, C., & Ribiere, V. (2020). Developing a unified definition of digital transformation. Technovation, 102217. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2020.102217
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2020.102217 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2020.102217
Guandalini, I. (2022). Sustainability through digital transformation: A systematic literature review for research guidance. Journal of DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.05.003
Business Research, 148, 456–471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.05.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.05.003
Harzing, A.-W., & Alakangas, S. (2015). Google Scholar, Scopus and the Web of Science: a longitudinal and cross-disciplinary comparison. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-015-1798-9
Scientometrics, 106(2), 787–804. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-015-1798-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-015-1798-9
Hassanin, M. E., & Hamada, M. A. (2022). A Big Data strategy to reinforce self-sustainability for pharmaceutical companies in the digital
transformation era: A case study of Egyptian pharmaceutical companies. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and
Development, 14(7), 1870-1882. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2021.1988409 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2021.1988409
Huy, P. Q., & Phuc, V. K. (2023). Unfolding sustainable auditing ecosystem formation path through digitalization transformation: How DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13392
digital intelligence of accountant fosters the digitalization capabilities. Heliyon, 9(2).https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13392 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13392
Ji, Z., Zhou, T., & Zhang, Q. (2023). The Impact of Digital Transformation on Corporate Sustainability: Evidence from Listed Companies in DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032117
China. Sustainability, 15(3), 2117. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032117 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032117
Jiang, Z., Zhang, X., Zhao, Y., Li, C., & Wang, Z. (2023). The impact of urban digital transformation on resource sustainability: Evidence DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103784
from a quasi-natural experiment in China. Resources Policy, 85, 103784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103784 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103784
Khatoon, S., & Rehman, V. (2021). Negative emotions in consumer brand relationship: A review and future research agenda. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12665
International Journal of Consumer Studies, 45(4), 719–749. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12665 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12665
Kunkel, S., & Matthess, M. (2020). Digital transformation and environmental sustainability in industry: Putting expectations in Asian and DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.06.022
African policies into perspective. Environmental Science & Policy, 112, 318–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.06.022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.06.022
Liu, M., Li, H., Li, C., & Yan, Z. (2023). Digital transformation, financing constraints and enterprise performance. European Journal of DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-05-2023-0349
Innovation Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-05-2023-0349 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-05-2023-0349
Llopis-Albert, C., Rubio, F., & Valero, F. (2021). Impact of digital transformation on the automotive industry. Technological Forecasting DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120343
and Social Change, 162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120343 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120343
Lüdeke-Freund, F., Carroux, S., Joyce, A., Massa, L., & Breuer, H. (2018). The sustainable business model pattern taxonomy—45 patterns DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2018.14771abstract
to support sustainability-oriented business model innovation. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 15, 145-162.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2018.06.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2018.06.004
Martínez-Peláez, R., Ochoa-Brust, A., Rivera, S., Félix, V. G., Ostos, R., Brito, H., & Mena, L. J. (2023). Role of digital transformation for
achieving sustainability: mediated role of stakeholders, key capabilities, and technology. Sustainability, 15(14), 11221. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411221
https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411221 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411221
Nadkarni, S., & Haider, I. (2022). Digital transformation, operational efficiency and sustainability: innovation drivers for hospitality's DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-05-2022-0054
rebound in the United Arab Emirates. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes. https://doi.org/10.1108/whatt-05-2022-0054 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-05-2022-0054
Paul, J., Lim, W. M., O’Cass, A., Hao, A. W., & Bresciani, S. (2021). Scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12695
(SPAR‐4‐SLR). International Journal of Consumer Studies, 45(4).https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12695 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12695
Ritala, P., Huotari, P., Bocken, N., Albareda, L., & Puumalainen, K. (2018). Sustainable business model adoption among S&P 500 firms: A
longitudinal content analysis study. Journal of cleaner production, 170, 216-226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.159 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.159
Robertsone, G., & Lapina, I. (2023). Digital Transformation as a Catalyst for Sustainability and Open Innovation. Journal of Open DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100017
Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 100017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100017
Senyo, P. K., Effah, J., & Osabutey, E. L. C. (2021). Digital platformisation as public sector transformation strategy: A case of Ghana’s DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120387
paperless port. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120387 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120387
Tang, W., & Yang, S. (2022). Digital Transformation and Firm Performance in the Context of Sustainability: Mediating Effects Based on DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8220940
Behavioral Integration. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2022, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8220940 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8220940
Tranfield, D., Denyer, D., & Smart, P. (2003). Towards a Methodology for Developing Evidence-Informed Management Knowledge by DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00375
Means of Systematic Review. British Journal of Management, 14(3), 207–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00375 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00375
Truong, T. C. (2022). The Impact of Digital Transformation on Environmental Sustainability. Advances in Multimedia, 2022, 1–12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6324325
https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6324325 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6324325
Valentinov, V., Van Assche, K., & Hermans, F. (2022). Toward a digital transformation of the theory of the firm: Emergence as framework DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cjas.1668
for organizational sustainability. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences / Revue Canadienne des Sciences de l'Administration.
https://doi.org/10.1002/cjas.1668 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cjas.1668
Vial, G. (2019). Understanding digital transformation: A review and a research agenda. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003
(2), 118–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003
Walkowiak, E. (2021). Neurodiversity of the workforce and digital transformation: The case of inclusion of autistic workers at the DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120739
workplace. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120739 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120739
Yang, J., Wu, R., & Yang, H. (2023). Digital Transformation and Enterprise Sustainability: The Moderating Role of Regional Virtual DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097597
Agglomeration. Sustainability, 15(9), 7597. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097597 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097597
Ying, Y., & Jin, S. (2023). Digital Transformation and Corporate Sustainability: The Moderating Effect of Ambidextrous Innovation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11070344
Systems, 11(7), 344. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11070344 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11070344
Zhang, Y., & Jin, S. (2023). How Does Digital Transformation Increase Corporate Sustainability? The Moderating Role of Top DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11070355
Management Teams. Systems, 11(7), 355. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11070355 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11070355
Zhuo, C., & Chen, J. (2023). Can digital transformation overcome the enterprise innovation dilemma: Effect, mechanism and effective DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122378
boundary. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122378 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122378
Zhang, X., Xu, Y. Y., & Ma, L. (2023). Information technology investment and digital transformation: the roles of digital transformation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-06-2022-0254
strategy and top management. Business Process Management Journal, 29(2), 528–549. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-06-2022-0254. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-06-2022-0254
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Isabela Marques Kumer, Marcus Frantz Alberto, Julia Richter, Rodrigo Marques de Almeida Guerra

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Until 2023, copyright was transferred by the authors to ReA/UFSM. As of 2024, the authors of articles published by the journal retain the copyright to their work. ReA/UFSM operates under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted reuse and distribution of articles, provided the original work is properly cited.

