This study aims to analyze the relationship between government digitalization and the enhancement of community participation in development in North Sumatra Province. Digitalization is understood as an effort to transform bureaucracy through information technology, manifested in official regional government websites such as sumutprov.go.id, which provide various public services online. However, the effectiveness of such digital platforms in encouraging active citizen participation has not been widely explored, particularly in non-metropolitan areas. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection techniques including observation, documentation, and semi-structured interviews with ten informants from various regions in North Sumatra. Data were analyzed using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana model, supported by NVivo 15 software for thematic coding and data visualization. The findings reveal that although the public has access to digital government services, the level of engagement remains low due to structural barriers (internet access and digital literacy), cultural factors (offline habits), and institutional constraints (limited bureaucratic responsiveness). Based on the Diffusion of Innovation theory, most of the population falls into the late majority and laggards’ categories, indicating that digital innovation adoption is not yet widespread. This study offers novelty by specifically mapping the forms of digital community participation based on direct experiences and identifying the dynamics of digital innovation adoption within the context of regional governance. These findings have significant implications for the development of a more adaptive, inclusive, and participation-oriented digital government strategy in regional development.

The digital transformation era has profoundly altered how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) compete, particularly those in traditional industries. This study examines the relationship between second-order digital marketing and purchase intention, emphasizing the mediating role of e-service quality in Ulos-based SMEs in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Digital marketing is conceptualized as a second-order construct composed of cost efficiency, incentive programs, interactivity, and site design, reflecting the multidimensional nature of digital strategies. Data were collected from customers of Ulos SMEs who had engaged with online platforms through a structured survey. The measurement and structural models were tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results confirm that digital marketing significantly affects its four dimensions and positively predicts e-service quality. However, the direct effect of digital marketing on purchase intention was insignificant. Instead, e-service quality strongly affects purchase intention and mediates the relationship between digital marketing and purchase intention. The model explained 54.6% of the variance in e-service quality and 65.9% in purchase intention, indicating substantial explanatory power. The findings contribute theoretically by validating digital marketing as a second-order construct and clarifying the mediating role of e-service quality, thereby addressing prior inconsistencies in the literature. Practically, the results underscore that SMEs, particularly in cultural industries such as Ulos, must integrate service quality with digital marketing to convert exposure into purchase behavior. This study highlights how balancing cultural authenticity with digital innovation enables heritage-based SMEs to achieve sustainability and competitiveness in the digital economy.

This study explores the mediating role of digitalization in the relationship between human resource transformation and competitive advantage in women-led small and medium enterprises. The analysis utilized data from 120 women entrepreneurs across diverse sectors, with the study's methodology incorporating Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that competitive advantage and human resource transformation collectively account for 70.3% of the variance in business performance (R² = 0.703), underscoring their critical Influence. However, the expected mediating effect of digitalization on BP was discovered to be non-significant (P = 0.094), suggesting its role might be more supportive than transformative in this context. Notwithstanding this finding, digitalization remains a pivotal catalyst for operational efficiency and innovation. This study contributes to extant scholarship by drawing upon the Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities Theory, offering novel insights into the strategic importance of digital tools and human capital in women-led Small and Medium Enterprises.