Bounded Perfection: Harnessing the Power of Technological Advancement to Spur Sustainable Transition

To study the power of technologies in advancing sustainable transitions, it is crucial to monitor economic, operational, and environmental performance under a sustainable strategic mindset. There exists a wealth of valuable knowledge gathered by researchers that has not yet been fully explored. This study surveyed 189 academics across 55 different regions, inquiring about the activities, practices, strategies, and performance areas where digital technologies need to be developed to enhance sustainable transitions. Using network analysis and various statistical tests for rank data, it was found that digital technology adoption has a significant impact on certain strategies (such as supply chain and management) and performance outcomes (economic, operational, and environmental) essential for sustainable transitions. The findings highlight key activities in managing strategies and controlling performance through digital technology adoption, as deemed efficient by academic experts. This study is novel as it incorporates the academic perspective, emphasizing its relevance for business awareness in sustainability. It clarifies the potential of various digitalization approaches and aims to provide a guiding framework for business decision-makers to identify digital technology opportunities. Additionally, it serves as a guide for academics to build a future research agenda focused on new digital strategies and practices for sustainable transitions.