Small and medium enterprises' (SMEs) digital footprints and their ethical implications during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond

The aim of this project is to help SMEs deal with the management of digital footprints that increased usage of digital tools is creating, especially after the Covid-19 outbreak. It answers the questions: What are the main ethical concerns regarding Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) digital footprints, in terms of transparency strategies of organisations and equal opportunities for individuals?

What are the processes that can help organisations understand their organisational digital footprints better? What would a transparency strategy look like both at an organisational (employer) and individual (employee) level?

Digitisation of the business environment creates digital footprints such as electronic information each employee or organisation creates, transfers or receives in the form of emails, document-sharing, calls or chats. Digital footprints blur the boundaries between the individuals and organisations, which creates various risks in transparency, equality and inclusion.

SMEs are not equipped to handle such an avalanche of digital footprints, particularly due to the COVID-19 crisis), which blur the boundaries between organisational and personal information. With an increasing portion of organisational and individual activities leave digital footprints in electronic-databases, many SMEs take advantage of such easily available online data to help shape their management, recruitment, and communication strategies.

The more personal information included in the equation, the more it interferes with the privacy of the individuals concerned. Striving to carve out in the digital world, many SMEs are taking minimal and vague steps. Thus, these questions emerge; to whom does this digital footprint belong and who, ultimately, has the control of it, are the critical questions for organisations to consider.

Our project aims to develop an analytical framework that helps SMEs to better understand their digital footprints and their ethical implication both at the organisational and individual level. Through our innovative approach of netnography, the project will be undertaken through a review of case studies and a collection of new information via digital ethnography.

Two SMEs' digital footprints will be tracked and observed through participation in some online activities, mainly through social media, company websites, and other digital platforms. The team will undertake a total of 25 interviews with representatives of 10 SMEs, including leaders and employees. We will analyse data using a mixed-method approach. We will organise a number of virtual workshops with industry partners and other stakeholders.

This work will result in academic publications, blogs and infographics for SMEs and employees. We will also provide briefings for business support entities and policymakers. We will disseminate the result via media channels.

The outcome of the project will transpire a strong perspective in the future of work scenarios. It advances the understanding of how digital footprints are reshaping work, by addressing transparency strategies to help better understand SMEs digital footprints and its ethical implications.