Thesis
Exploring the Role of Resources in Digital Transformation Initiatives
Southern Cross University
Masters by Thesis, Southern Cross University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25918/thesis.328
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Abstract
In recent times, organizations have purported to undergo unprecedented transformations owing to the adoption of digital technologies such as social, mobile, analytics, cloud and internet-of-things (referred commonly as SMAC-I technologies), a phenomenon broadly termed as digital transformation. Many argue that digital technologies will minimize the ‘digital divide’ that appears based on the resource availability, particularly by providing substantial opportunities for less resourceful firms to compete with their resourceful counterparts. While there has been much discussion in academia on digital transformation, there exists several gaps in research: (i) albeit many consider digital technologies to have ‘low’ amount resources, anecdotal commentary suggests that digital transformation efforts are fraught with millions of dollars of investments; (ii) these initiatives are required to be viewed as a part of the business strategy where it would feature resources, inputs, outputs, frictions and clear overarching processes; (iii) a few studies provide a theory-driven, holistic understanding of the notion and feature the broader nomological net of digital transformation; and (iv) the terminological diversity and confusion of digitization, digitalization and digital transformation require further clarification. As such, this study contributes to this key tributary of knowledge by pursuing the research question: “How do organizations attain positive transformational outcomes in digital transformation initiatives?”, allowing the researcher to explore the current digital transformation literature with a focus on the role of salient resources while delving into the key phases, inputs, outputs and tensions featured in and the impact of resource scarcity on a successful digital transformation initiative. It follows the qualitative research methodology featuring multiple, in-depth, exploratory interpretive case studies that were selected using purposive sampling. The study employs an inductive, grounded theory method-based analysis of 230 peer-reviewed publications to derive an a-priori model featuring digital and non-digital factors that influence digital transformation initiatives. The instantiation of this model against the interpretive case studies results in an integrative model featuring four prominent theories of digital transformation literature and possible tensions between incumbent and new technologies with three key phases; assembly/sensing, configuration/seizing, and outcomes/transformation, influenced by the 3 non-digital and 3 digital considerations of competing value-propositions.
Details
- Title
- Exploring the Role of Resources in Digital Transformation Initiatives
- Creators
- Mekhala Hansini Adhikari Egodawele
- Contributors
- Darshana Sedera (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversityVinh Bui (Supervisor) - Southern Cross University
- Awarding Institution
- Southern Cross University; Masters by Thesis
- Theses
- Masters by Thesis, Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross University
- Number of pages
- xii, 333 pages
- Identifiers
- 991013154613602368
- Copyright
- © MH Adhikari Egodawele 2023
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Business, Law and Arts
- Resource Type
- Thesis