Digital Transformation in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Guidelines for the Commercial Dental Laboratory Sector

Bachelor Thesis , 2021 , 92 Pages , Grade: 1,0

Business economics - Miscellaneous

This thesis derives guidelines to path a way for digital transformation using the example of commercial dental laboratories. Therefore, commercial dental laboratories' current approach to managing digital transformation was identified by conducting 12 expert interviews with commercial dental laboratories according to SMEs' underlying size categorisation. Based on the discrepancy between the theory-based procedural stages and the laboratories' holistic assessment, practical and comprehensible guidelines were derived.

It was found that size-specific differences prevail in the way digitalisation measures are managed. Micro-sized and small laboratories suffer from financial and personal constraints and are limited to collaborating with partners. In contrast, medium-sized laboratories are confronted with increased internal complexity and resulting ambiguity within the workforce. This thesis enables managers of different sized laboratories to adapt guidelines tailored to their industry and provides support in implementing new technology.

Digital transformation is the technology-induced change on different organisational levels that includes both the exploitation of digital technologies and the exploration of digital innovation to transform the business model. Even though digital transformation is empirically and conceptually elaborated in theory, existing literature neglects the specifies of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Often existing models lack concrete recommendations for action that guide through the digital transformation and offer decision-making assistance.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Preliminary Note
• List of Abbreviations
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1 Initial Situation and Problem Definition
  • 1.2 Research Question and Research Aim
  • 1.3 Structure of the Bachelor Thesis
• 2. Theoretical Framework
  • 2.1 Definition of Digital Transformation
  • 2.2 Definition of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises
    • 2.2.1 Definition based on Quantitative Criteria
    • 2.2.2 Definition based on Qualitative Criteria
  • 2.3 Introduction to the German Dental Laboratory Industry
  • 2.4 Procedure Model for Digital Transformation
    • 2.4.1 Inspiration Phase
    • 2.4.2 Orientation Phase
    • 2.4.3 Planning Phase
    • 2.4.4 Implementation Phase
    • 2.4.5 Evaluation and Adaptation Phase
  • 2.5 Maturity Model for Digital Transformation
    • 2.5.1 Strategy as one Dimension of the Hybrid Model
    • 2.5.2 Customers as one Dimension of the Hybrid Model
    • 2.5.3 Products as one Dimension of the Hybrid Model
    • 2.5.4 Processes as one Dimension of the Hybrid Model
    • 2.5.5 Organisation as one Dimension of the Hybrid Model
    • 2.5.6 IT Infrastructure and Technology as one Dimension of the Hybrid Model
    • 2.5.7 Corporate Environment as one Dimension of the Hybrid Model
• 3. Methodical Procedure
  • 3.1 Basic Design
  • 3.2 Sampling
  • 3.3 Qualitative Data Collection
    • 3.3.1 Type of Interview
    • 3.3.2 Preparation of Guided Interview Questionnaire
    • 3.3.3 Documentation of Interview
  • 3.4 Data Evaluation
  • 3.5 Validation
• 4. Research Results
  • 4.1 The Work Process of Digital Dental Technology
  • 4.2 Presentation of the Interview Results
    • 4.2.1 Category of Strategy
    • 4.2.2 Category of Customers
    • 4.2.3 Category of Products
    • 4.2.4 Category of Processes
    • 4.2.5 Category of Organisation
    • 4.2.6 Category of IT-Infrastructure and Technology
    • 4.2.7 Category of Corporate environment
    • 4.2.8 Category of Recommendations for Action
• 5. Research Discussion
  • 5.1 Inspiration Phase
  • 5.2 Orientation Phase
  • 5.3 Planning Phase
  • 5.4 Implementation Phase
  • 5.5 Evaluation and Adaptation Phase
• 6. Research Conclusion and Recommendations
  • 6.1 Limitations for Research
  • 6.2 Suggestions for Future Research
  • 6.3 Conclusion
• List of Appendix

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This bachelor thesis aims to derive understandable and practicable guidelines for commercial dental laboratories, providing them with concrete implementation measures. Along with the guidelines, they enable digital transformation by analyzing small- and medium-sized commercial dental laboratories.

• The main objective of the work is to develop practical guidelines for implementing digital transformation processes in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the German commercial dental laboratory sector.
• The research analyzes the current approach of dental laboratories in implementing digitalization projects and identifies key areas for improvement.
• The work explores the specific challenges and opportunities associated with digital transformation in SMEs, considering their size-specific characteristics.
• The study investigates the impact of digital transformation on various dimensions of the organization, including strategy, customers, products, processes, organization, IT infrastructure, and corporate environment.
• The research aims to provide actionable recommendations for laboratory managers to effectively navigate digital transformation and achieve sustainable success.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter introduces the initial situation and the problem definition. The thesis aims to develop guidelines for implementing digital transformation processes in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), focusing on the German commercial dental laboratory sector. The research gap arises from the lack of practice-oriented and intuitive procedures for managing digital transformation in SMEs. The research question is: What guidelines on how to proceed with digital transformation can be derived from the example of commercial dental laboratories in Germany?

The second chapter delves into the theoretical framework. It provides a comprehensive definition of digital transformation, distinguishing it from digitalisation and digitisation. The chapter also outlines the role of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the context of digital transformation and presents an overview of the German dental laboratory industry. It explores the application of maturity models and procedure models for digital transformation, highlighting the hybrid model's suitability for SMEs. The chapter concludes by examining the dimensions of the hybrid model: strategy, customers, products, processes, organization, IT infrastructure, and corporate environment.

The third chapter focuses on the methodical procedure used in the research. It describes the basic design of the empirical study, the sampling process for selecting interview partners, and the qualitative data collection methods. The chapter details the preparation and execution of the guided interview questionnaire and outlines the documentation process for data evaluation. It then explains the qualitative content analysis technique employed for analyzing the interview data and addresses the validation of the research findings through communicative validation.

The fourth chapter presents the research results, based on expert interviews with 12 representatives from commercial dental laboratories of different sizes. It provides insights into the current approach of dental laboratories in implementing digitalization projects, analyzing their strategies, customer relationships, product innovation, process management, organizational structure, IT infrastructure, and corporate environment. It also explores the recommendations for action provided by the interviewees.

The fifth chapter engages in a critical discussion of the research findings, aligning them with the phases of Hellge et al.'s procedure model for digital transformation. It analyzes the results in the context of the inspiration, orientation, planning, implementation, and evaluation and adaptation phases, highlighting key discrepancies between theory and practice. This chapter also derives guidelines for laboratory managers, focusing on size-specific differences and offering concrete implementation measures.

The final chapter concludes the research by summarizing the key findings, discussing the limitations of the study, and suggesting potential avenues for future research. It reiterates the significance of the derived guidelines and emphasizes their practical value for commercial dental laboratories navigating the digital transformation landscape.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords and focus topics of the text include digital transformation, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), dental laboratory industry, hybrid model, maturity model, procedure model, qualitative content analysis, communicative validation, strategic planning, customer relationship management, process optimization, organizational culture, IT infrastructure, and corporate environment.

• College: University of Applied Sciences Hanover
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Maxi Osterhaus (Author)
• Publication Year: 2021
• Pages: 92
• Catalog Number: V1008393
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346402271
• ISBN (Book): 9783346402288
• Language: English
• Tags: Digital Transformation