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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.

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  • 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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    18. Cuibai Yang & Zhenli Li & Futian Li & Hongting Li, 2024. "The Impacts of Digital Leadership on Employee Voice Behaviors: The Mediating Roles of Employee Empowerment and Work Engagement," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, June.
    19. 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.
    20. Muhammad Bilal & Zhao Xicang & Wu Jiying & Jan Muhammad Sohu & Sadaf Akhtar & Muhammad Iatzaz Ul Hassan, 2025. "Digital Transformation and SME Innovation: A Comprehensive Analysis of Mediating and Moderating Effects," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 1153-1182, March.
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