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Digital Leaders and the Transformation of the IT Function

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
Article number4
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>10/07/2021
<mark>Journal</mark>Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems
Issue number1
Volume33
Number of pages28
Pages (from-to)95-122
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

With digital transformation attracting increasing attention, our study is motivated by a need to understand the impact on the transformation of the Information Technology (IT) function in pre-digital organisations. In particular, we present in this paper a qualitative study that aims to examine how digital transformation influences the IT organisational structure and leadership in pre-digital organisations. The empirical study is based on a series of semi-structured interviews with digital leaders across a range of organisations and sectors in the UK and Scandinavia. We find four different categories of both IT organisational structure and leadership following digital transformation initiatives: managing digital as projects within the IT function; managing the IT and digital functions separately with separate leaders; managing IT and digital within one function with dual leadership; and managing the IT and digital functions together with a single leader. The study has both theoretical and practical implications for the management of digital transformation and the IT function.