The science behind digital transformations
Yesteryear’s blockchain is today’s AI. The technology might change, yet the transformation at the heart remains as challenging as ever. At Saïd Business School we equip current and future business leaders with the know-how needed to tackle the twin challenge of changing the technology that runs businesses and at the same time changing the organisation.
Alexander Budzier, Fellow in Management Practice, together with a team of veteran digital transformation and project management experts, ran a research project to uncover the Science of Digital Transformations. Implement Consulting funded this multi-year research project at Oxford Saïd.
Alexander, together with his co-authors Thomas Gottschalck, Kim Bjørn Thuesen and Astrid Lanng, have just published a new book - Intelligent Change: The Science Behind Digital Transformations - which delivers a powerful new discussion of how to manage technological change within your organisation.
The book relies on a systematic literature review of over 1,800 publications on managing change and technology and 160 interviews with top-level managers of digital transformation. They also collected data on over 150 individual digital transformations to rigorously test their seven hypotheses and come to their conclusions.
Alexander explains: 'We started with what we already know. In hundreds of hours of workshops with practitioners and academics we distil all the existing knowledge into seven levers. Like other first principles, these everyone considers those as absolutely essential to make digital transformations a success.'
The authors scientifically develop the seven key levers of success, explore why some work—establishing management ownership, building trusted relationships, impactful training, and effective two-way communication—and why other levers do not work as expected. For each they discuss the latest science and practical cases to inspire how you can implement these within your own firm during transformation initiatives.
Intelligent Change walks you through the steps you need to take to ensure your next technology change has the impact you’ve been hoping for. You’ll learn about what sets frontline management 'ownership' apart from mere support or promotion. You’ll also discover how to generate psychological safety and trust for your frontline staff and managers engaged in the day-to-day work of implementing a digital transformation, as well as how to ensure that communication about the project is a dialogue instead of a top-down transfer of edicts and expectations.
Alexander adds: 'We wrote the book for the ‘research-curious practitioner.’ In the book, we combine robust research with Tom, Kim, and Astrid’s practical insights and stories directly from the front-line of digital transformations. We thought, we knew what we were doing pretty well already, but then we started asking the critical question: "How do we know this works?" and if you start asking that question you get some surprising answers. I hope that our readers will learn as much about digital transformations as we did.'
Intelligent Change is a must-read for managers, executives, and other business leaders interested in facilitating digital transformation projects that deliver significant business value. It’s also a powerful guide for entrepreneurs, founders, and project managers who want to effectively lead their organisations through digital transformation initiatives.
Intelligent Change walks you through the steps you need to take to ensure your next technology change has the impact you’ve been hoping for. You’ll learn about what sets frontline management 'ownership' apart from mere support or promotion. You’ll also discover how to generate psychological safety and trust for your frontline staff and managers engaged in the day-to-day work of implementing a digital transformation, as well as how to ensure that communication about the project is a dialogue instead of a top-down transfer of edicts and expectations.
Alexander adds: 'We wrote the book for the ‘research-curious practitioner.’ In the book, we combine robust research with Tom, Kim, and Astrid’s practical insights and stories directly from the front-line of digital transformations. We thought, we knew what we were doing pretty well already, but then we started asking the critical question: "How do we know this works?" and if you start asking that question you get some surprising answers. I hope that our readers will learn as much about digital transformations as we did.'
Intelligent Change is a must-read for managers, executives, and other business leaders interested in facilitating digital transformation projects that deliver significant business value. It’s also a powerful guide for entrepreneurs, founders, and project managers who want to effectively lead their organisations through digital transformation initiatives.
Author biographies:
Alexander Budzier, is a Fellow in Management Practice at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He’s an expert in project and programme management, with a focus on information technology, infrastructure, energy, mega events, and change.
Thomas Gottschalck, is a Senior Partner at Implement Consulting Group. He heads the firm’s digital and transformation services related to the public sector. He has over 15 years’ experience in large-scale IT transformation and program management.
Kim Bjørn Thuesen, is a Partner and Head of the IT Change Management Department at Implement Consulting Group. Thuesen is an expert in empowering middle managers to engage effectively with change and deploy effective communication.
Astrid Lanng, is an experienced management consultant at the Implement Consulting Group’s Digital Transformation practice. She is focused on helping large-scale IT programs succeed by achieving business benefits and coming in on time and on budget.
