Digital transformation of enterprises based on a process-project approach

Aim. The work aimed to develop a process-project methodology for managing and assessing digital transformation, adapted for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and aimed at increasing their competitiveness and sustainable development in the digital economy.
Objectives. The work seeks to analyze conceptual approaches to business digitalization and identify their limitations when applied to SMEs; define strategic and tactical goals of digital transformation and align them with key business processes; develop a process-project management model for digitalization, including a system for assessing the maturity of processes and the effectiveness of individual digital initiatives; formulate practical recommendations for creating an organizational and methodological framework (Digital Competency Center) to support the transformation; as well as to substantiate the integration of the author’s method with digital maturity models (ADKAR, McKinsey DQ, Capgemini DMM) to develop a comprehensive digitalization management tool.
Methods. We applied systems and process-project approaches, providing a holistic consideration of digital transformation as a multi-level and continuous process encompassing strategic, tactical, and operational management levels. A combination of methods was employed, including a comparative analysis of conceptual approaches to digitalization, a structural-functional method for identifying the relationships between processes and projects, and modeling to construct a process-project architecture for digital transformation. In order to assess performance, a twotier metrics system is proposed, focused on measuring the maturity of end-to-end business processes and the effectiveness of a number of digital initiatives. This enables not only to identify bottlenecks but also to formulate recommendations for improving the digital maturity and competitiveness of SMEs.
Results. The process-project approach represents a balanced and effective methodological foundation for the digital transformation of SMEs, as it aligns strategic goals with tactical initiatives and avoids fragmentation of digitalization. The analysis revealed that the use of a process-based or project-based approach leads to limited effectiveness, since the former results in the risk of mechanical automation of inefficient processes, while the latter results in a silo effect and project inconsistency. The developed proprietary methodology, based on a two-tier assessment system (the maturity of end-to-end business processes and the effectiveness of digital initiatives), enables the identification of key growth points and ensures the integrity of digital transformation. The practical significance of the study consists in the proposal of an organizational mechanism in the form of a Digital Competence Center, which serves as an integrator and coordinator of digital projects, thereby contributing to the increased digital maturity, sustainability, and competitiveness of SMEs in the digital economy.
Conclusions. The digital transformation of SMEs should not be viewed as a combination of isolated projects, but as a comprehensive and continuous process based on strategic goals and end-to-end business processes. A comparative analysis revealed that a process-project approach serves as the optimal methodological basis for digitalization, as it ensures a balance between improving operational efficiency and achieving long-term strategic development. The proposed methodology for assessing digital transformation, based on a two-tiered metrics system, enables objective measurement of process maturity and the effectiveness of digital initiatives, thereby facilitating the development of a holistic digital ecosystem of an enterprise. The practical value of this article consists in the development of recommendations for creating a Digital Competence Center that ensures the integration of projects and processes, as well as in the rationale for a combined approach using digital maturity models (ADKAR, McKinsey DQ, Capgemini DMM). The results confirm the need for a systemic, proactive, and data-centric approach, which contributes to the growth of digital maturity, competitiveness, and sustainable development of SMEs in the digital economy.

1. Agafonova T.V., Pirogova S.V. Digitalization of business processes. Ekonomika i biznes: teoriya i praktika = Economy and Business: Theory and Practice. 2020;(12-1):26-29. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.24411/2411-0450-2020-11009

2. Igoshina D.R. Features of digitalization of business processes in companies of small and medium entrepreneurship. Industrial’naya ekonomika = Industrial Economics. 2021; (5-11):1092-1097. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.47576/2712-7559-2021-5-11-1092

3. Tsenzharik M.K., Krylova Yu.V., Steshenko V.I. Digital transformation in companies: Strategic analysis, drivers and models. Vestnik Sankt-Peterburgskogo universiteta. Ekonomika = St. Petersburg University Journal of Economic Studies. 2020;36(3):390-420. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu05.2020.303

4. Kharitonova N.N., Dulesova E. Digitalization as a factor of influence on the technological process of production in purposes of increasing the competitiveness of the enterprise. Novye impul’sy razvitiya: voprosy nauchnykh issledovanii. 2020;(7):165-170. (In Russ.).

5. Styuflaeva E.V. Methods of reengineering of enterprise business processes in the context of digitalization. Sovremennye tekhnologii upravleniya = Modern Management Technology. 2020;(S4):4. URL: https://sovman.ru/article/93104/?ysclid=mhsvc0t8vd315408679 (accessed on 20.11.2024). (In Russ.).

6. Krymov S.M., Kolgan M.V. Specifics of using innovative technologies in commodity circulation process based on informatization. Rossiiskoe predprinimatel’stvo = Russian Journal of Entrepreneurship. 2018;19(1):233-244. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.18334/rp.19.1.38762

7. Dorogovtseva A.A., Ovcharenko N.K. Artificial intelligence in the corporate management system: Evolution, innovation and prospects. Ekonomika, predprinimatel’stvo i pravo = Journal of Economics, Entrepreneurship and Law. 2024;14(11):6259-6272. (In Russ.). https:// doi.org/10.18334/epp.14.11.121944

8. Kalimullina O.V., Yartseva K.A., Litun K.V. The role of expert and recommendation systems for business intellectualization: Industry market analysis. Voprosy innovatsionnoi ekonomiki = Russian Journal of Innovation Economics. 2022;12(3):1613-1636. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.18334 / vinec.12.3.114969

9. Osipenko L.E., Kozitsyna Yu.V., Korotkov A.V. Research training and machine learning: From matching to convergence. Psikhologo-pedagogicheskie issledovaniya = Psychological Education Studies. 2022;14(4):127-146. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/psyedu.2022140408

10. Tsurkan N.I., Perova M.V. Cloud technologies in enterprise management. Ekonomika i upravlenie v XXI veke: tendentsii razvitiya. 2014;(18):151-155. (In Russ.).

11. Vakhrushev D.S., Kalsin A.E. Institutional aspects foster innovation transition to postindustrial development. Ekonomika, statistika i informatika. Vestnik UMO = Economics, Statistics and Informatics. Vestnik UMO. 2014;(6-2): 265-267. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21686/2500-3925-2014-6 (2)-265-267

12. Vernyakhovskaya V.V., Raptunovich O.M. Innovative approaches to Big Data analysis: From theory to practice. In: Big Data and high-level analysis. Proc. 11th Int. sci.-pract. conf. (Minsk, April 23-24, 2025). Minsk: Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics; 2025:380-385. (In Russ.).

13. Sakhapova T.S., Ismagilov T.Sh., Tikhonov V.A. A digital twin of the manufacturing system as a stage in the new digital business model of an industrial company. Gornaya promyshlennost’ = Russian Mining Industry. 2023;(2):62-68. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.30686/16099192-2023-2-62-68

14. Weill P., Woerner S. What’s your digital business model? Six questions to help you build the next-generation enterprise. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press; 2018. 256 p. (Russ. ed.: Weill P., Woerner S. Tsifrovaya transformatsiya biznesa: izmenenie biznesmodeli dlya organizatsii novogo pokoleniya. Moscow: Alpina Publisher; 2019. 257 p.).

15. Borisov S.A., Zhogin A.O. Formation of digital competencies of employees as an element of improvement competitiveness of the company. Vestnik Altaiskoi akademii ekonomiki i prava = Journal of Altai Academy of Economics and Law. 2022;(4-2):148-154. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17513/vaael.2150

16. Krakovskaya I.N. Digital transformation of industrial business models: Conceptual approaches and scenarios. π-Economy. 2025;18(3):7-28. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.18721/JE.18301

17. Ivanova E.A., Glyzina M.P. Staff development to support digital business processes. Vestnik Altaiskoi akademii ekonomiki i prava = Journal of Altai Academy of Economics and Law. 2024;(1):84-92. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17513/vaael.3215

18. Dzyubanenko A.A., Gavrilova A.D. Project approach to the implementation of digitalization at domestic enterprises. Sovremennye tekhnologii upravleniya = Modern Management Technology. 2023;(3):10308. https://doi.org/10.24412/2226-9339-2023-3103-7

19. Naugolnova I.A. Project and process management as a factor of companies’ sustainable development in the digital economy. Informatizatsiya v tsifrovoi ekonomike = Informatization in the Digital Economy. 2023;4(3):265-278. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.18334/ide.4.3.119237

20. Kopteva L.A., Shabalina L.V. Digital platforms as a tool for digital transformation of industrial enterprises. Vestnik evraziiskoi nauki = The Eurasian Scientific Journal. 2023;15(2):3. (In Russ.). URL: https://esj.today/PDF/03ECVN223.pdf (accessed on 20.11.2024). (In Russ.).

21. Zaikovsky V.E., Karev A.V., Malik A.A., Steiger M.A. Risks of digital transformation of industrial enterprise. Problemy analiza riska = Issues of Risk Analysis. 2021;18(5): 48-55. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.32686/1812-5220-2021-18-5-48-55

22. Krokhina P.A. Еhe impact of digitalization on the effectiveness of organizations. Ekonomika i biznes: teoriya i praktika = Economy and Business: Theory and Practice. 2024;(3-1): 191-195. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.24412/2411-0450-2024-3-1-191-195

23. Kafiyatullina Yu., Panfilova E. Approaches to assessing the efficiency through the digitalization of the organization. Moskovskii ekonomicheskii zhurnal = Moscow Economic Journal. 2022;7(1):347-359. (In Russ.). http://doi.org/10.55186/2413046X_2022_7_1_46

24. Mrochkovsky N.S. Strategic planning of prospects to develop management models in digital economy. Vestnik Rossiiskogo ekonomicheskogo universiteta imeni G.V. Plekhanova = Vestnik of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. 2020;17(4):173-180. (In Russ.). http:// doi.org/10/21686/2413-2829-2020-4-173-180

25. Hiatt J. ADKAR: A model for change in business, government and our community. Fort Collins, CO: Prosci Research; 2006. 146 p.