Change Management Towards Digitalization and Innovation

The issue of this paper is the conceptualization of a digital transformation concept which supports both, digitalization and innovation. This is caused in the reason that organizations need appropriate circumstances in order to cope with challenges concerning digital transformation. Thus,this paper provides practical starting points in order to support firms in terms of their change towards digitalization. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is based on practical experiences, literature research and expert interviews concerning digitalization in companies. First of all benefits as well as resulting challenges arising out of digitalization will be presented in order to show the importance of digital issues for companies. Grounded on these insights a transformation model for the digital turnaround will be created based on theoretical issues such as change management or sensemaking. Findings:The concept provides practical implication and measurements for a structured change. Hereby companies should first of all focus on the corporate culture due to the fact that culture is the most important enabler or hinderer for any kind of change. This includes the modification of the corporate ́s vision, values as well as the behaviour of executives and proper working condition as well. Moreover,digitalization will be linked to information management in order to underline the importance of the so called horizontal integration due to the fact that networking is the basis for cooperative change processes (Spath, 2013). Research/practical implications: The paper includes implications for the change management towards digitalization and innovation. The provided digital transformation concept serves as a guideline for managing the challenges in terms of digitalization and innovation processes. Originality/value:This paper fulfils an identified need in order to cope with the current issue digitalization that will change our whole life rapidly and extremely. In order to be prepared organizations,need to know how to deal with the challenges concerning digitalization. Only if they are prepared, e.g. by using a digital transformation concept companies are able to see not only the challenges but also the chances evolve out of digital issues.