“Glocal” Governance – Mitigating Local-Global Tensions in Digital Transformation Programs
Journal
Information Systems Practice Journal
ISSN
3135-4440
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2026-08-18
Author(s)
Research Team
IWI1
Abstract
In contrast to most innovation projects, digital transformation programs aim at achieving benefits not only on the level of one or more processes, markets or functions (local benefits), but also on the enterprise or even business ecosystem level (global benefits). Although balancing local and global objectives (e.g., differentiation vs. coherency) is being recognized as a key lever for transformation success, program governance knowledge and practice usually rely on a top-down approach, often leading to tensions between global and local stakeholders. Informed by tension theory and based on engaged scholarship in four large digital transformation programs, we propose six validated design principles and eight projectable design features for tension-aware “glocal” transformation program governance. Evidence from the conducted programs is presented showing that, by following these design principles and implementing contextualized design features, not only competing local and global objectives can be balanced but also effective collaboration in tension-prone settings can be facilitated.
Language
English
Keywords
digital transformation
decentral organizations
program governance
global/local tensions
design principles
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Volume
1
Number
Article 4
Start page
1
End page
27
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Contact Email Address
antonia.albani@unisg.ch
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Name
Glocal Governance Mitigating Local-Global Tensions in Digital Transformation Programs.pdf
Type
Main Article
Size
1.17 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
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