Business Model Transformation through Digitalization as an Approach to Facilitate SDG Achievement: A Case of an MNC in Bangladesh in the COVID-19 Context

Abstract

Increasing digitalization and the advent of Industry 4.0 were scrutinized on how these may influence SDG attainment in different levels. The digitalization of the business and operational models emerged as the newer source of attaining competitive advantage in the pre-COVID-19 context. The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly added more complexities to the already prevailing VUCA context of sustaining the business and development agenda irrespective of their geographic or institutional affiliations. Businesses in different industries, particularly in the developing countries, had lower or no preparedness in most cases in dealing with such uncertainties arising from the pandemic. Business firms and governments started to revise and digitalize their business models at the enterprise and institutional levels. To be very precise, MNCs in the fast-moving consumer goods industry in Bangladesh restructured their business model, at least the supply chain part, through direct and indirect digitalization of their business models, partly developing cooperation with existing e-commerce platforms. Volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous focused corporate leadership and strategy helped in halting drastic slipping on the SDG millstones for Bangladesh. Despite the prevalent COVID-19 context, Bangladesh graduated to the club of the developing countries by retaining eligibility position on the gross national income index, human assets index, and economic vulnerability index. This chapter attempts to establish theoretical structuration of the links between digitalization and transformation of the business models and handling the SDG challenges.

Citation

Un Nabi, M.N. and Masroor, I. (2022), "Business Model Transformation through Digitalization as an Approach to Facilitate SDG Achievement: A Case of an MNC in Bangladesh in the COVID-19 Context", Berrones-Flemmig, C.N., Contreras, F. and Dornberger, U. (Ed.) Business in the 21st Century, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 143-156. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-787-220221012