Theoretical Foundation: Digital transformation
Problem statement
Digital transformation nowadays is rapidly becoming an essential part of every day and is needed in nearly every business that pursues growth, expansion, quality, and sustainability. Digital refers to the technological changes that are taking place rapidly in today’s world. These changes bring established corporations under immense pressure, pushing them in many cases into zones of irrelevance. Nowadays, the digital strategy of any organization is to determine the structure for achieving the potential goals of the organizations’ subdivisions and formulate procedures to facilitate the sale of products (Nadkarni & Prügl, 2020). Transformation refers to digital usage that allows new forms of creativity and innovation in a specific domain in an integral way, rather than merely improving and supporting traditional methods. Strictly speaking, the term digital revolution may clarify the phenomenon of organizations going paperless that affects the individual companies as well as whole segments of society, including government, medicine, mass media, art, and science.
Digital transformation is the rapid advancement in business technology, improving the efficiency in organizations, activities, and processes in response to the increasing effects and opportunities of computing technologies and evidence. It also allows businesses to improve operational efficiencies, organizational performance, customer interactions, and digital technology (Nadkarni & Prügl, 2020). Also, the use of advanced digital technologies such as mobile and social media can be defined to enable businesses to make significant improvements. Such corporate changes include improving customer experience, introducing new business models, and streamlining processes. Several reasons push the need for digital transformation forward. Understanding the implementation process allows organizations to prepare adequately to make the shift successful. The research gap allows for the following research question: “What are the impacts of digital transformation on organizations and higher education institutions?”
Theories and Models
The grounded theory methodology is used for analysis purposes. Grounded theory is a well-known technique used in many investigative studies. The theory is a general technique for the advancement of theory, based on data obtained and evaluated systematically. Theory emerges through actual research, and this is achieved through constant interplay between the interpretation and the collection of data. The grounded theory’s objective is to establish a theory that explains fundamental social processes and causes observed in the contexts in which they exist (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). This objective is accomplished by examining social causes, backgrounds, consequences, covariance, and contingencies for understanding the relations between these factors (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). The main advantage is its potential to close the gap between non-theoretical scientific study and non-empirical evidence-based theory. The theory utilizes inductive reasoning, an alternative to deductive analysis, where a theory-based hypothesis is developed and then field-tested.
The grounded theory has four unquestioned principles: a theoretical sampling of constant data collection, iterative contrast, coding, and theory development. The process of data collection within this theory is an iterative operation. The analysis starts when the first data set is collected. Further data collection builds on the primary analysis. The theory also uses theoretical sampling, and there is no sample size minimum or limit. Researchers can also pick early samples of important people, who, in turn, can trigger valuable research avenues (Goulding, 2005). A further selection of samples continues according to theoretical importance. The data collected is continuously compared with pattern variations created. Texts from interviews, findings, and records are reviewed line by line, and patterns are listed as provisional.
Research Methods
Due to the lack of sufficient information in this field, an explorative qualitative research approach will be used. Qualitative research helps one understand the causes, motives, and views behind a particular topic. This type of analysis takes advantage of inductive reasoning, in which the logic goes from specific instances to a general conclusion (Sutton & Austin, 2015). Qualitative research provides insights into a particular issue as a tool for analysis and acts as a guideline for a potential quantitative study. It is accomplished by having a relatively limited but centered sample base. Qualitative research is also characterized as subjective, in nature. Interviews and observations will be conducted with various employees in the company to generate data.
The Relevance of Theories and Models to Study
The research on the effects of digital transformation is a new and crucial issue and requires accurate findings. Therefore it is advantageous to use the grounded theory methodology to generate knowledge since significant literature or research on the study area is insufficient. The grounded theory provides a means of using qualitative data in depth to establish hypotheses about the phenomenon being examined systematically. Turner (1983) indicates that grounded theory is especially suitable for handling qualitative data of the kind obtained from participant observation, face-to-face observation, semi-structured or unstructured interviews, case-study content, or documentary sources. These particular kinds of inquiry usually produce large quantities of data, accumulating in non-standards. The grounded theory approach provides the investigator with a way to screen and analyze this type of material. A particular strength of using grounded theory is that the progress of the research is produced with a written record. The derivation of any definition or pattern can always be traced by going back through the data and memos.
References
Goulding, C. (2005), Grounded theory, ethnography, and phenomenology: A comparative analysis of three qualitative strategies for research, European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 39 Nos. 3/4, pp. 294-308.
Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. (1967). Discovery of Grounded Theory. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Co.
Nadkarni, S., & Prügl, R. (2020). Digital transformation: a review, synthesis, and opportunities for future research. Management Review Quarterly. doi: 10.1007/s11301-020-00185-7
Sutton, J., & Austin, Z. (2015). Qualitative Research: Data Collection, Analysis, and Management. The Canadian Journal Of Hospital Pharmacy, 68(3). doi: 10.4212/cjhp.v68i3.1456
Turner, B. (1983). The use of Grounded Theory for the qualitative analysis of organizational behavior. Journal Of Management Studies, 20(3), 333-348. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.1983.tb00211.x