Striving for Global Optima in Digital Transformation: A Paradox Theory Approach Short Paper
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2022
Author(s)
Abstract
Inherent properties of digital technologies offer promising possibilities such as rapid scalability and exponential growth. However, we observe that firms pursuing digital transformation (DT) initiatives face difficulties in realizing these benefits, as they face competing organizational demands (tensions) in the DT context. By considering digital technologies' unique properties and adopting a paradox theory lens, we conducted a qualitative study with 28 interviewees across three companies from which we derive six drivers of tensions and three novel paradoxical tensions within the DT context. We show how these drivers and tensions lead to firms pursuing short-term successes at the cost of strategic benefits that DT offers (what we call "local" instead of "global" optima). We provide scholars and practitioners with a fundamental understanding of how digital technologies define challenges in the DT process so that firms can proactively structure DT initiatives to reach global optima.
Language
English (United States)
Keywords
digital transformation
organizational tensions
paradox theory
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Event Title
International Conference on Information Systems
Event Location
Copenhagen, Denmark
Subject(s)
Division(s)
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
open.access
Name
Viljoen et al._2022 ICIS.pdf
Size
646.41 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
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