Digital Transformation Readiness and Skills Formation in Agricultural Export Enterprises: An Adaptable Assessment Model

Abstract

Digital transformation is dependent on technology, human capital, organizational learning, and institutional support. At the same time, the role of skills formation and capability development is often underspecified in existing assessment, particularly in emerging and export-oriented economies. This study aims to develop and empirically validate a multifactor model to assess enterprise digital transformation strategy and readiness, with particular attention to workforce skills, leadership capacity, and institutional conditions. The study applies a sequential analytical design combining exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis with structural equation modeling using survey data from 186 firms in Vietnam’s agricultural export sector. The findings indicate that employee digital skills, leadership, organizational capabilities, and institutional environment are jointly determinative of transformation outcomes. Notably, transformation-related complexity and external pressures are associated with higher levels of readiness, suggesting that capability development and strategic alignment can be stimulated in demanding environments. The study’s novelty lies in integrating organizational, human capital, and policy dimensions within a single analytical framework, offering a structured approach to understanding how enterprises develop digital readiness through skills formation and institutional interaction. The proposed model enables context-sensitive assessment across sectors and provides insights relevant to education systems, workforce development, and policy design in digitally transforming economies.