Digital Innovation Management Transformation in Southeast Asia
Abstract
This study examines digital innovation management transformation across five Southeast Asian countries - Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines - through a comprehensive desktop review methodology analyzing academic literature, government publications, and industry reports. The research identifies three distinct organizational transformation archetypes: Digital Pioneers achieving comprehensive integration across all innovation processes, Digital Adopters implementing selective digital tools in specific functional areas, and Digital Beginners in early transformation stages with limited systematic integration. Singapore and Malaysia emerge as regional leaders through systematic government support and advanced digital infrastructure, while Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines demonstrate rapid mobile-first innovation adoption despite infrastructure constraints. Critical success factors include strong leadership commitment, comprehensive employee development programs, appropriate technology selection, and systematic change management approaches tailored to local contexts. Key barriers encompass infrastructure limitations, regulatory complexity, human capital constraints, and financial resource challenges particularly affecting small and medium enterprises. The findings reveal that successful digital innovation management transformation requires phased implementation approaches, sustained organizational commitment, and careful integration of technological capabilities with local market conditions and institutional frameworks. The research contributes to understanding digital transformation in emerging markets and provides practical guidance for organizations seeking to optimize innovation capabilities in Southeast Asian contexts.
Keywords: Digital innovation management, Southeast Asia, digital transformation, innovation capabilities, emerging markets, ASEAN
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