Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00 IST
IJMEM Logo
International Journal of Modern Engineering and Management | IJMEM
Multidisciplinary
Open Access Journal
ISSN No: 3048-8230
Follows UGC–CARE Guidelines
Home Scope Indexing Publication Charges Archives Editorial Board Downloads Contact Us

Impact of Digital Leadership on Employee Performance in Indian SMEs

Author(s):

R. Kavitha, S. Praveen Kumar

Affiliation: Department of Business Administration, Oxford College of Management, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Page No: 1-4

Volume issue & Publishing Year: Volume 2 Issue 12 , 2025-12-28

Journal: International Journal of Modern Engineering and Management | IJMEM

ISSN NO: 3048-8230

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18084624

Article Indexing:

Abstract:

Digital leadership has emerged as a critical success factor for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the digital economy. The rapid adoption of digital tools, automation, and online platforms has transformed traditional business operations and employee work practices. This study examines the influence of digital leadership on employee performance in Indian SMEs. Primary data were collected from 180 employees working in manufacturing and service-based SMEs through a structured questionnaire. The study analyzes the impact of digital vision, technological support, communication effectiveness, and innovation culture on productivity, job commitment, and adaptability. The results indicate that digital leadership significantly enhances employee efficiency, engagement, and willingness to embrace organizational change. The findings suggest that SMEs led by digitally competent leaders achieve improved workforce performance and sustainable competitive advantage

Keywords:

Digital Leadership; Employee Performance; SMEs; Organizational Change; Technology Adoption; Workforce Productivity

Reference:

  • [1] G. Westerman, D. Bonnet, and A. McAfee, Leading Digital: Turning Technology into Business Transformation. Boston, MA, USA: Harvard Business Review Press, 2014.
    [2] B. J. Avolio, S. Kahai, and G. Dodge, “E-leadership: Implications for theory, research, and practice,” The Leadership Quarterly, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 105–131, 2014.
    [3] G. C. Kane, D. Palmer, A. N. Phillips, D. Kiron, and N. Buckley, “Strategy, not technology, drives digital transformation,” MIT Sloan Management Review, vol. 56, no. 2, pp. 14–25, 2015.
    [4] R. Sharma and S. Gupta, “Digital leadership in Indian SMEs,” International Journal of Management Studies, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 45–52, 2018.
    [5] P. Reddy and V. Kumar, “Leadership influence on digital adoption in SMEs,” Journal of Business Management, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 88–96, 2020.
    [6] A. Singh, R. Malhotra, and P. Kaur, “Digital skills and employee performance in SMEs,” Asian Journal of Management Research, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 101–110, 2021.

Download PDF