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How to take employees on the digital transformation journey: An experimental study on complementary leadership behaviors in managing organizational change

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  • Weber, Ellen
  • Büttgen, Marion
  • Bartsch, Silke

Abstract

Digital transformation (DT) initiatives are often not successful. Research underlines leadership as a key to transformation success; however, studies have not systematically examined the impact of leaders on organizational change, particularly concerning organizations’ DT. To fill this research gap, we conducted an experimental study with 815 participants to analyze the effectiveness of complementary leadership behaviors that are relevant in the digital age: task-oriented (more precisely, digital transformation–oriented) and people-oriented leadership behaviors, and in particular their interaction. Surprisingly and in contrast to prior studies, the results show that the combination of complementary leadership behaviors did not lead to the highest (lowest) level of employees’ desirable (undesirable) affective, cognitive, and behavioral change responses. This study reveals that organizations are well-advised not to disregard people orientation when going digital as this leadership behavior buffers the potential downsides of digital transformation–oriented leadership behavior, which is mandatory to stay competitive in the digital era.

Suggested Citation

  • Weber, Ellen & Büttgen, Marion & Bartsch, Silke, 2022. "How to take employees on the digital transformation journey: An experimental study on complementary leadership behaviors in managing organizational change," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 225-238.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:143:y:2022:i:c:p:225-238
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.01.036
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    2. Zhi-Guang Li & Yanrui Wu & Yao-Kuang Li, 2023. "Technical Founders, Digital Transformation and Corporate Technological Innovation: Empirical Evidence from Listed Companies in China’s STAR Market," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 23-03, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    3. Jafari-Sadeghi, Vahid & Amoozad Mahdiraji, Hannan & Alam, Gazi Mahabubul & Mazzoleni, Alberto, 2023. "Entrepreneurs as strategic transformation managers: Exploring micro-foundations of digital transformation in small and medium internationalisers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    4. Yuan, Sai & Zhou, Ran & Li, Mengna & Lv, Chengchao, 2023. "Investigating the influence of digital technology application on employee compensation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    5. Culasso, Francesca & Gavurova, Beata & Crocco, Edoardo & Giacosa, Elisa, 2023. "Empirical identification of the chief digital officer role: A latent Dirichlet allocation approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    6. Cai Li & Sheikh Farhan Ashraf & Saba Amin & Muhammad Nabeel Safdar, 2023. "Consequence of Resistance to Change on AI Readiness: Mediating–Moderating Role of Task-oriented Leadership and High-Performance Work System in the Hospitality Sector," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.

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