ASSESSMENT AND PRİORİTİZATİON OF BARRİERS TO DİGİTAL TRANSFORMATİON İN THE REPUBLİC OF AZERBAİJAN USİNG A HYBRİD DELPHİ–TOPSİS APPROACH

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to identify the main barriers to digital transformation in the Azerbaijani economy and to assess their relative importance using a hybrid Delphi–TOPSIS approach. The application of this hybrid methodology enables the formation of expert consensus while also allowing the objective ranking of alternatives within a multi-criteria decision-making framework. Through the Delphi method, a two-stage evaluation process was conducted with the participation of 15 experts representing different fields. Initially, potential barriers were identified, and subsequently, a consensus-based list was developed according to their level of significance.
The empirical basis of the study consists of a large-scale survey covering 450 enterprises, of which 200 are large and medium-sized enterprises and 250 are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The survey results indicate that the most common challenges in the digital transformation process include insufficient human capital, limited financial resources, uneven development of digital infrastructure, institutional resistance to change, and cybersecurity risks.
The findings reveal that the most critical barriers are the shortage of qualified personnel (TOPSIS coefficient: 0.78) and limited financial resources (0.75). The study provides scientifically grounded recommendations for policymakers regarding the optimal allocation of resources in digital transformation strategies.