Digital capabilities and innovation capabilities in Vietnamese SMEs

Abstract

The objective of the study is to clarify the influence of digital capabilities on innovation capability, considering the direct and indirect impacts of digital leadership and digital culture in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam. The study used a mixed research method including qualitative with in-depth interviews and quantitative with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) to analyze 271 responses. Research results show that digital capabilities have a positive impact on SMEs’ innovation capability. Digital leadership and digital culture also, directly and indirectly, affect firms’ digital capabilities and innovation capabilities. From there, the study confirms the theoretical contributions as well as proposes suggestions for SMEs to develop digital capabilities, and as a result, to develop innovation capabilities.