Competence combination for digital transformation: a study of manufacturing companies in Finland

Digital transformation brings significant challenges for managing competences. Exploiting digital technologies requires new competences, which need to be combined with existing competences to increase business efficiency and introduce digital innovations. However, competence combination for digital...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Technology analysis & strategic management Vol. 35; no. 10; pp. 1355 - 1368
Main Authors: Pihlajamaa, Matti, Malmelin, Nando, Wallin, Arto
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Abingdon Routledge 03.10.2023
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:
Business
business & Management studies < DISCIPLINES < METHODOLOGY < TOPICS & ISSUES
Companies
Competence
Digital economy < TOPICS & ISSUES
Digital transformation
Efficiency
Innovations
Leadership
Machinery
Metals
organisational learning < TOPICS & ISSUES
Organizational change
qualitative < METHODOLOGY < TOPICS & ISSUES
Resistance
Transformation
Transformational leadership
Transformations
Finland
ISSN:0953-7325, 1465-3990
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Digital transformation brings significant challenges for managing competences. Exploiting digital technologies requires new competences, which need to be combined with existing competences to increase business efficiency and introduce digital innovations. However, competence combination for digital transformation is particularly challenging due to the scale of needed organisational change, conflicts between new and existing operating logics, and employee stress and resistance. Nonetheless, earlier research has neglected the question of how companies approach competence combination for digital transformation. Therefore, we investigated the views of top managers from ten companies in the Finnish machinery and metal products industry for this purpose. Based on an inductive analysis, we identified triggers for digital transformation and developed a managerial framework as a response. We argue that companies can create new transformative competence combinations by engaging in three activities: developing new competencies, promoting competence combination, and enhancing transformational leadership.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
ISSN:0953-7325
1465-3990
DOI:10.1080/09537325.2021.2004111