Bibliometric Insights into Digital Transformation in Family Businesses

Abstract

This research looks at how dynamic capabilities, human capital, and creativity work together to help family businesses become more digital. Family businesses make a big difference in the world economy, but it is getting harder for them to use digital tools while staying true to their values and thinking about the long term. A bibliometric analysis of 750 peer-reviewed papers from 2013 to 2023 is used to find important themes, new trends, and important contributors to the field. The results show that family businesses are both resistant to and able to adapt to digital change. This is often because of differences in how generations lead and worries about social and emotional wealth. Digital usage is driven by leaders from the next generation. Older members, on the other hand, often fight change because they like the way things were managed in the past. The study shows how important strategic leadership, investments in technology, and backing from institutions are for making digital transformation (DT) work. Also, there are clear differences between places in how people use technology. Developed economies use structured methods, while emerging markets have trouble with money and infrastructure. Innovation is a key factor in DT, but how it is used varies by industry. For example, manufacturing companies use Industry 4.0 technologies, while service-based companies focus on digital marketing and customer interaction. Even though scholars are becoming more interested, we still do not fully understand the social effects of digitisation, the problems that come with good governance, and the role that artificial intelligence (AI) plays in helping family businesses stay in business. The study’s conclusion is that family businesses need to find a balance between custom and new ideas in order to be successful in the digital world. It stresses the importance of structured frameworks, professionalisation, and collaborative leadership. It encourages more study into cross-regional comparisons, AI-driven governance models, and ethical issues in DT. This will help academics, practitioners, and policymakers who want to make family businesses more resilient in the digital age.

Keywords: Family Business, Digital Transformation, Bibliometric Study, Dynamic Capabilities, Human Capital and Creativity

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