A Systematic Review of Sustainability Accounting Practices in Emerging Markets

• Lina Arifin

  Hong kong university

  Author

Digital transformation (DT) has become a strategic imperative for organizations worldwide, yet existing frameworks largely focus on developed economies, leaving a gap in understanding DT in emerging markets (EMs). EMs present unique challenges, including resource constraints, infrastructural gaps, and institutional complexities, which influence how digital initiatives are adopted and implemented. This conceptual paper develops a context-specific framework to explain the drivers, barriers, and processes of digital transformation in emerging markets. The framework integrates technological, organizational, and institutional drivers, highlights critical barriers such as infrastructure, skill, and financial limitations, and emphasizes the interrelationships between drivers and barriers that create unique transformation pathways. By synthesizing prior literature and examining these dynamics, the paper provides theoretical insights that extend existing DT models and offers practical guidance for managers and policymakers seeking to implement digital initiatives in resource-constrained environments. The proposed framework serves as a foundation for future empirical research and contributes to a deeper understanding of digital transformation in emerging markets.

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