Opening the Black Box of the Digital Transformation Process — Evidence from Colombia

Objective: this article explains how the process of digital transformation (DT) occurs, which constitutes a fundamental change in organizations. Theoretical approach: to this end, qualitative research was carried out based on in-depth interviews with 10 DT leaders from companies in Colombia and two consultants specialized in the subject. Method: the methodology proposed by Gioia was used to analyze the results. Results: the findings show that DT is a continuous, complex, and emerging process that transcends technology, is multidimensional, and involves the entire organization. Conclusions: this work contributes to unraveling the nature of DT by opening the black box and proposing a dynamic and iterative scheme of three key moments: initiation, implementation, and capitalization, which in turn is permeated by multiple emerging aspects. Additionally, a contribution is made to the dominant literature that presents digital transformation as a technological issue, a matter of process digitization, and as a fixed, homogeneous, and stable phenomenon. It is concluded that digital transformation is a process that corresponds to organizational and strategic change.