The Role of Cybersecurity and Digital Transformation in Achieving Competitive Advantage through Strategic Human Resource Management in Industrial Units of Khoy Estate
Taghi mohammadi
1
(
Department of Management, khoy.C., Islamic Azad University, Khoy, Azarbayejan Gharbi, Iran
)
Mojtaba Ghorbanalizadeh
2
(
Department of Compute, khoy.C., Islamic Azad University, Khoy, Azarbayejan Gharbi, Iran
)
Keywords: Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM), Competitive Advantage, Khoy Industrial Units,
Abstract :
Digital transformation and cybersecurity both necessitate significant investment in human resources. The success of these transformations heavily depends on an organization’s ability to attract, develop, retain, and motivate employees with essential competencies, such as digital skills, data literacy, and cybersecurity knowledge. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the mediating role of strategic human resource management (SHRM) in the relationship between digital transformation, cybersecurity, and competitive advantage within the industrial units of Khoy Industrial Park. This research is applied in nature and descriptive-survey in its methodology. The statistical population consists of all 300 active industrial units in Khoy Industrial Park; using the Cochran formula, a sample size of 169 units was selected at a 95% confidence level. Data were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through PLS software. The findings revealed that SHRM plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between digital transformation and competitive advantage, as well as between cybersecurity and competitive advantage. In essence, strategic human resource management can enhance the positive effects of digital transformation and cybersecurity on achieving competitive advantage. The results of this study can serve as a scientific basis for managers and policymakers to design effective organizational strategies in the digital era.
[1] Afee, A., & Brynjolfsson, E. (2012). Big data: The management revolution. Harvard Business Review, 90(10), 60–68.
[2] Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O. A., Pavlou, P. A., & Venkatraman, N. (2013). Digital business strategy: Toward a next generation of insights. MIS Quarterly, 37(2), 471–482.
[3]Bondarouk, T., van der Vaart, T., & Vliegenthart, R. (2025). The contingent role of HR strategy and practice implementation in the relationship between SHRM and firm performance. Human Resource Management Journal, 35(1), 134-155. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12456
[4.Boxall, P., & Purcell, J. (2016). Strategy and human resource management (4th ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
[5] DergiPark. (2024). Integration of Cybersecurity and Strategic HRM: A Multi-Country Study.
[6] Hanelt, A., Bocken, N. M. P., Figge, L., magdalena, K., von, U. D., & Pfeiffer, J. (2021). A systematic review of digital transformation research: Current trends and future research directions. Journal of Management Information Systems, 38(4), 1139–1173. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.2021.1985314
[7] Ifinedo, P., & Wang, G. (2023). Security investments and organizational performance: Evidence from information security breaches. Information & Management, 60(1), 103431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2022.103431
[8] Kshetri, N. (2023). The role of cybersecurity in international business. Journal of International Business Studies, 54(3), 499–518. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-022-00568-4
[9] Lepak, D. P., & Snell, S. A. (1999). The leverage of human resource configurations: Optimal distinctiveness and the management of human capital. Journal of Management, 25(3), 373–394. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639902500305
[10] Marler, J. H., & Parry, E. (2016). Human resource management, strategic involvement and e-HRM technology. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 27(19), 2233–2253.
[11] Marler, W., & Parry, E. (2016). Enterprise social networks: Employees’ role perceptions and the mediating effect of HR engagement. Journal of Business Research, 69(12), 5673–5680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.05.015
[12] MDPI. (2025). Strategic Human Resource Management in the Digital Era: Technology, Transformation, and Sustainable Advantage.
[13] Mhlanga, D. (2020). Industry 4.0 in Africa: A systematic review of the literature. International Journal of Business and Management Review, 8(3), 1-18.
[14] Mohammadi, Taqi; Zadeh, Reza Abdollah; & Ghorbani, Saber. (2023). Investigating the impact of human resource management practices on organizational performance with regard to the mediating role of employees’ ethical climate in the national bank directorates of the northwestern region of the country.
[15] Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (1995). The knowledge-creating company: How Japanese companies create the dynamics of innovation. Oxford University Press.
[16] OpenJournalHub. (2025). Digital Transformation in Human Resource Management.
[17] Porter, M. E. (1980). Competitive strategy: Techniques for analyzing industries and competitors. Free Press.
[18] Soomro, K., Mari, B., & Ahmed, S. (2021). Cybersecurity challenges and opportunities in the context of digital transformation. IEEE Access, 9, 60161-60177. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3073453
[19] Tambe, P., Cappelli, P., & Subramony, S. M. (2019). Technology-enabled HR transformation: The role of HR technology. In Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management (Vol. 37, pp. 167-210). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0742-730120190000037006
[20] Teece, D. J. (2018). Explicating dynamic capabilities: The nature and microfoundations of (im)possible busines. Strategic Management Journal, 28(13), 1319–1350. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.623
[21] Verhoef, P. C., Broekhuizen, T., Bart, Y., Bhattacharya, A., Dong, J. Q., [22] Fabian, N., & Haenlein, M. (2021). Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 122, 889–901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.12.034
[23] Vial, G. (2019). Understanding digital transformation: A review and a research agenda. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 28(2), 118–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003
[24] Von Solms, R., & Van Niekerk, J. (2013). From information security to cyber security. Computers & Security, 38, 97–102.
[25] Westerman, G., Bonnet, D., & McAfee, A. (2014). Leading digital: Turning technology into business transformation. Harvard Business Review Press.
[26] Womeodu, A. C., Nwaizere, E. C., & Nwobu, I. A. (2022). Cybersecurity awareness and its impact on employees’ behaviour: A study of selected financial institutions in Nigeria. Journal of Information Security and Cybercrimes, 5(2), 1-15.
[27].World Economic Forum. (2024). The Global Competitiveness Report 2024.
[28] Wright, P. M., & McMahan, G. C. (2011). Theoretical perspectives for strategic human resource management. Journal of Management, 37(2), 587–622. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206310374495