Adopting a digital transformation strategy to enhance business network commons regeneration: an explorative case study

Purpose – This article aims to understand whether and how a digital transformation strategy (DTS) can strengthen the relationship between network organizations and the generation/regeneration of their business network commons (BNC). Further, it investigates the role of the DTS in managing the BNC, a critical source of business network success. Design/methodology/approach – A two-year longitudinal case study of an Italian business network operating in the wine sector was conducted. Findings – This study provides theoretical insights into the digital, sustainable shift of a business network. On combining a network’s business strategy and its DTS, digital resources are a key driver to promote BNC regeneration. A DTS undertaken to manage, regenerate and preserve the BNC can positively affect organizational variables, such as participatory architecture, and the network-level organizational integration and can help in preventing opportunistic behaviors affecting the BNC. Moreover, the DTS supports quality and social responsibility. Research limitations/implications – This study focuses on an Italian case and its findings are hence not generalizable. It would be interesting to study sustainable business networks’ digital shift in different socioeconomic contexts as well as in different industry settings. Practical implications – Network SMEs and other stakeholders (institutions, competitors and consumers) can foster the transition from a “business-as-usual” strategy to a long-term strategy for digitalized management of common resources. Originality/value – The study is at the intersection of, and contributes to, several research streams. It contributes to the digital transformation literature by adding information on the positive externalities of digitalization in the social and economic environment. It also contributes to the early streams of organizational and managerial literature on the BNC.