Table 1. Digitalization-performance... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1.

Digitalization-performance mechanisms and methodology of the articles included in the special issue

Performance dimension	Operational mechanism (digitalization improves operations and efficiency outcomes)	Strategic mechanism (digitalization improves performance via strategic paths)
Financial	1) Geldes et al. (2026) Sample = 515 Chilean SMEs. Method: factor analysis (EFA) and regression (OLS) model Outcome: market share, sales, profitability and productivity	2) Seclen-Luna et al. (2026) Sample = 1712 manufacturing firms in Seven South American countries Method: regression (OLS) models Outcome: financial performance (sales and profit) 3) Maldonado-Guzman (2026) Simple = 307 Mexican SMEs. Method: partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) Outcome: financial and sustainable performance
Innovation	4) Rojas-Cabezas et al. (2026) Sample = 3733 SMEs from Latin America and the Caribbean Method: partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) Outcome: product and process innovation	5) Faith-Vargas and Martinez (2026) Simple = 572 SMEs from Five Latin American countries Method: biprobit seemingly unrelated (SUR) models Outcome: Product innovation 6) Márquez-Álvarez et al. (2026): Sample = 124 Costa Rican SMEs. Method: structural equation model (SEM) Outcome: product innovation
Digital maturity	7) Hornyák and Szerb (2026) Sample = 1053 SMEs from ten countries (six in Europe, three in Latin America and one in Asia) Method: composite indicator building method Outcome: digital maturity composite indicator (WebIX)	8) Neira et al. (2026) Sample = 272 Spanish SMEs. Method: partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM). Outcome: level of digitalization (single-item scale)

Performance dimension	Operational mechanism (digitalization improves operations and efficiency outcomes)	Strategic mechanism (digitalization improves performance via strategic paths)
Financial	1) Geldes et al. (2026) Sample = 515 Chilean SMEs. Method: factor analysis (EFA) and regression (OLS) model Outcome: market share, sales, profitability and productivity	2) Seclen-Luna et al. (2026) Sample = 1712 manufacturing firms in Seven South American countries Method: regression (OLS) models Outcome: financial performance (sales and profit) 3) Maldonado-Guzman (2026) Simple = 307 Mexican SMEs. Method: partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) Outcome: financial and sustainable performance
Innovation	4) Rojas-Cabezas et al. (2026) Sample = 3733 SMEs from Latin America and the Caribbean Method: partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) Outcome: product and process innovation	5) Faith-Vargas and Martinez (2026) Simple = 572 SMEs from Five Latin American countries Method: biprobit seemingly unrelated (SUR) models Outcome: Product innovation 6) Márquez-Álvarez et al. (2026): Sample = 124 Costa Rican SMEs. Method: structural equation model (SEM) Outcome: product innovation
Digital maturity	7) Hornyák and Szerb (2026) Sample = 1053 SMEs from ten countries (six in Europe, three in Latin America and one in Asia) Method: composite indicator building method Outcome: digital maturity composite indicator (WebIX)	8) Neira et al. (2026) Sample = 272 Spanish SMEs. Method: partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM). Outcome: level of digitalization (single-item scale)