Digital Transformation Pathways in Southeast Asia: A Temporal-taxonomic Study

Digital Transformation Pathways in Southeast Asia: A Temporal-taxonomic Study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Digital Transformation Pathways in Southeast Asia: A Temporal-taxonomic Study Barbara Siuta-Tokarska, Iwan Awaluddin Yusuf, Małgorzata Kowalik, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7099862/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This paper offers a comprehensive assessment of digital transformation pathways across Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries between 2017 and 2022. Drawing on data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), we introduce a novel temporal–taxonomic methodological framework that enables a more refined analysis of digital development. Through expert-guided variable selection, we construct a composite synthetic indicator (CMG) and several partial indicators to capture the multidimensional nature of digitalization. A taxonomic clustering approach is then applied to identify structural patterns among the ten ASEAN countries. Our analysis reveals significant disparities in digitalization levels, which align closely with broader socio-economic differences across the region. Specifically, three distinct clusters emerge, each reflecting different stages of digital advancement. Countries exhibiting higher levels of GDP, industrialization, and social development are consistently found in the most digitally advanced cluster. The study contributes to filling a recognized research gap by providing a comparative, data-driven perspective on digital transformation in emerging economies. It offers actionable insights for policymakers and development agencies seeking to reduce digital inequality and foster inclusive technological growth in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, the methodological framework developed here may serve as a basis for future research in digital transformation and socio-economic forecasting. Digital Transformation ASEAN ICT Indicators Taxonomic Clustering Synthetic Indicator Regional Development Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7099862","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":491441557,"identity":"08b02e97-8b74-41b7-98e8-71bf995e6aa1","order_by":0,"name":"Barbara Siuta-Tokarska","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kraków University of Economics","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Barbara","middleName":"","lastName":"Siuta-Tokarska","suffix":""},{"id":491441558,"identity":"18b80340-757d-4f6d-bc85-1ab37496c718","order_by":1,"name":"Iwan Awaluddin Yusuf","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Islamic University of Indonesia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Iwan","middleName":"Awaluddin","lastName":"Yusuf","suffix":""},{"id":491441559,"identity":"1eb144c8-8929-48da-8522-0c16ca3a65f3","order_by":2,"name":"Małgorzata Kowalik","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kraków University of Economics","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Małgorzata","middleName":"","lastName":"Kowalik","suffix":""},{"id":491441560,"identity":"3daf6e3c-e181-4f65-90bd-a33283b40897","order_by":3,"name":"Andrej Privara","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Economics in Bratislava","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Andrej","middleName":"","lastName":"Privara","suffix":""},{"id":491441561,"identity":"1371874b-6948-4f55-9745-d59cbda6d40b","order_by":4,"name":"Gagan Deep Sharma","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Gagan","middleName":"Deep","lastName":"Sharma","suffix":""},{"id":491441562,"identity":"b93121c6-1095-4c4e-ad2e-104bfa9a9a50","order_by":5,"name":"Marcin Suder","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAx0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYJACCQYGGzDJwAPEfERqSUNoYSNSy2EStOj2nzG88XHPeXn56AbGB2/bGPIIajG7kWNsOePZbcONdw4wG85tYygmQguPmTTPgduMG2cksEnztjEkthHUcv6MmfSfA+fsgVrYfxOn5UCOmTTDgQOJ8yUS2JiJ03Ijrdiy50By8gaJxGbJOeckiPDL+cMbb/w4YGc7f0bywQ9vymzy+AlpgQODA4wNQEoigWgdDPINEJoELaNgFIyCUTBSAAB4zz8IM8vvMAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"AGH University of Krakow","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Marcin","middleName":"","lastName":"Suder","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-07-11 09:08:24","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7099862/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7099862/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105782743,"identity":"d5522da0-345b-4377-994a-4ebb886e4773","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-31 05:41:44","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":720088,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ManuscriptQQ.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7099862/v1_covered_f1987b2a-b100-4594-98c4-178ee291f481.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eDigital Transformation Pathways in Southeast Asia: A Temporal-taxonomic Study\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Digital Transformation, ASEAN, ICT Indicators, Taxonomic Clustering, Synthetic Indicator, Regional Development","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7099862/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7099862/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis paper offers a comprehensive assessment of digital transformation pathways across Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries between 2017 and 2022. Drawing on data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), we introduce a novel temporal\u0026ndash;taxonomic methodological framework that enables a more refined analysis of digital development. Through expert-guided variable selection, we construct a composite synthetic indicator (CMG) and several partial indicators to capture the multidimensional nature of digitalization. A taxonomic clustering approach is then applied to identify structural patterns among the ten ASEAN countries.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur analysis reveals significant disparities in digitalization levels, which align closely with broader socio-economic differences across the region. Specifically, three distinct clusters emerge, each reflecting different stages of digital advancement. 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