Unpacking the difference between digital transformation and IT-enabled organizational transformation

Wessel, L., Baiyere, A., Ologeanu-Taddei, R., Cha, J. and Blegind-Jensen, T. 2021. Unpacking the difference between digital transformation and IT-enabled organizational transformation. Journal of the Association for Information Systems. 22 (1), pp. 102-129. https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00655

TitleUnpacking the difference between digital transformation and IT-enabled organizational transformation
TypeJournal article
AuthorsWessel, L., Baiyere, A., Ologeanu-Taddei, R., Cha, J. and Blegind-Jensen, T.
Abstract

Although digital transformation offers a number of opportunities for today’s organizations, information systems scholars and practitioners struggle to grasp what digital transformation really is, particularly in terms of how it differs from the well-established concept of information technology (IT)-enabled organizational transformation. By integrating literature from organization science and information systems research with two longitudinal case studies—one on digital transformation, the other on IT-enabled organizational transformation—we develop an empirically grounded conceptualization that sets these two phenomena apart. We find that there are two distinctive differences: (1) digital transformation activities leverage digital technology in (re)defining an organization’s value proposition, while IT-enabled organizational transformation activities leverage digital technology in supporting the value proposition, and (2) digital transformation involves the emergence of a new organizational identity, whereas IT-enabled organizational transformation involves the enhancement of an existing organizational identity. We synthesize these arguments in a process model to distinguish the different types of transformations and propose directions for future research.

KeywordsDigital transformation
IT-enabled organizational transformation
Organizational identity
Value proposition
Imposition
Reconciliation
Digital technology
Process model
JournalJournal of the Association for Information Systems
Journal citation22 (1), pp. 102-129
ISSN1536-9323
Year2021
PublisherAssociation for Information Systems
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00655
Publication dates
Published08 Jan 2021

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