Operational Optimization in Chilean SMEs through Information and Communication Technologies: Optimización Operativa en las PYMEs Chilenas a través de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación

Florencia Flen-Rossi; Jorge Rojas-Vallejos; Mario Domínguez Amorós

doi:10.29105/ensayos44.2-5

Authors

Florencia Flen-Rossi Universitat de Barcelona https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3197-9894
Jorge Rojas-Vallejos Universidad Andrés Bello https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5939-3035
Mario Domínguez Amorós Universitat de Barcelona https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2225-4987

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29105/ensayos44.2-5

Keywords:

Information and Communication Technologies, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), productivity, operational development, quantitative analysis, public policies

Abstract

Objective: This study analyzes the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on the operational efficiency of Chilean Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), aiming to identify the most relevant digital tools to support their development and guide public policy.

Method: We used microdata from the Fifth Longitudinal Survey of Enterprises (ELE5). An ANOVA was applied to assess differences in ICT adoption across economic sectors, and a factorial analysis was conducted to identify the most influential technological dimensions.

Results: Four key ICT dimensions—transactional, informational, infrastructure, and strategic—were found to significantly influence SME operations. The results highlight that ICT adoption varies notably across sectors, suggesting that its impact is not uniform.

Limitations: The analysis relies on cross-sectional data from 2017, limiting causal interpretations and

excluding post-pandemic digital developments. Furthermore, binary variables reduce the granularity of technological usage assessment.

Main findings: ICTs play a strategic role in enhancing the operational efficiency of SMEs in Chile. The study provides empirical evidence to inform policy design aligned with the Digital Agenda 2030, offering a valuable baseline for future research and decision-making in emerging economies.

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Author Biographies

Florencia Flen-Rossi, Universitat de Barcelona

A political scientist with a Master's degree in Sociology, I am currently a PhD candidate in Business Sociology, specializing in innovation, entrepreneurship, and public policies with socio-environmental impact. My academic and professional career focuses on the intersection of applied research and the development of strategic solutions for SMEs and innovation ecosystems.

As a researcher, I have worked on projects that analyze the impact of digital transformation, operational optimization, and technology adoption in the business community, with an emphasis on sustainable business models. I have developed studies on the role of public policies in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, generating empirical evidence to strengthen decision-making in these areas.

In addition, I have experience in university teaching and managing interdisciplinary work teams, applying participatory methodologies to design sustainable strategies in different economic and social contexts. My approach combines analytical rigor with a practical vision, facilitating the connection between academic knowledge and its application in the business world.

Jorge Rojas-Vallejos , Universidad Andrés Bello

Doctor en Economía por la Universidad de Washington y Máster en Economía por la Universidad de Sídney. Es académico de la Universidad Andrés Bello, donde se desempeña como profesor asociado y presidente del Magíster en Economía y Ciencia de Datos. Sus investigaciones abordan temas como desigualdad, comercio internacional, sostenibilidad y políticas públicas, con publicaciones en revistas como Open Economies Review y Energy Policy. También ha ejercido como asesor económico en el Congreso chileno y como economista jefe en diversas instituciones.

Mario Domínguez Amorós, Universitat de Barcelona

Màrius Domínguez i Amorós is a tenured professor of sociology at the Department of Sociology of the University of Barcelona. He holds a degree in Sociology and Psychology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He is the Director of the Consolidated Research Group (SGR-1145 2017-2021) Copolis "Well-being, Community, and Social Control", and a member of the Consolidated Teaching Innovation Group (GIDC-UB-140/13) CEFOCID-Copolis, both affiliated with the University of Barcelona.

He previously served as Academic Vice Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Barcelona. His areas of expertise and research include social indicators systems, public policy analysis, social research techniques, multivariate data analysis, social inequalities analysis, processes of social change and transformation, living conditions, and social well-being. In these fields, he has conducted numerous research studies and has published books, scientific articles, and academic papers.

He has participated in several competitive R&D projects and research agreements with public administrations. Additionally, he is the Coordinator of the Master’s in Applied Social Research Techniques (Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, and the Official College of Sociologists and Political Scientists of Catalonia). He is also the Director of the Doctoral School at the University of Barcelona.

He actively participates in various sociology associations and currently serves as the Vice President of the Spanish Federation of Sociology (FES).

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