The TRUTH about DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION - and why it never* works (*rarely)
Many posts and consultants are speaking about accelerating digital transformation and speed up all virtual initiatives in the wake of the pandemic crisis - which is true, you should
However, 'just' speeding up digital initiatives is of little effect if the complete operations are not behind the initiatives - it is very important to understand that most digital changes or transformation are company-wide and require full alignment
In essence, and put simply, digital transformation is about process changes, so this should be the starting point of all digital transformations - which also inherently make the transformation more difficult
Process changes are changing the ways the organization works, and when beginning to touch these areas, you reach into the silo-structure and small kingdoms in the corporation - and this can be problematic as people are reluctant to change - especially when it involves changes to their jobs, responsibilities, and domains
Apart from changing the work processes, people would have to change their habits which is one of the most difficult things to do - it's a question of creating a completely new culture
How to? Let's reiterate what are the main factors stopping the digital transformation
- Thinking it's a unit-issue and not company-wide
- It's earth-shattering, not rocking
- Too much consensus-seeking from executive management
- Failure to commit
- Lack of stars on the shoulder
If you fail to understand that, you fail to improve the business
My suggestion is to not go out and proclaim it as a group-wide digital transformation; take it as small steps, where you identify the business units most ready for changes and make the transformation a success with them, ensuring that successes are broadly celebrated and marketed
This will also help to change the culture - everybody wants to be part of a success and when you create successful subunits within the company, other employees want to follow With tangible results, the process optimization and transformation can continue