Goals and benefits of digital transformation projects: Insights into project selection criteria

IF 1.2 4区管理学 Q3 ECONOMICS South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences Pub Date : 2022-02-28 DOI:10.4102/sajems.v25i1.4158

W. Gertzen, E. Van der Lingen, H. Steyn

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引用次数: 4

Abstract

Background: Digital transformation (DT) is an increasingly relevant concept for businesses to remain competitive. As DT projects are disruptive to an organisation and are significantly different from traditional information technology projects, it is important to understand the value that specific DT projects will bring to an organisation before they are implemented, so that DT project portfolios can be optimally managed. Aim: This study aims to determine the key goals and benefits of DT projects, as well as the selection criteria for DT projects in South African businesses. The study also explores the most influential technologies for driving the implementation of DT projects. Setting: South Africa is an emerging economy. The study was performed in the initial phases of nationwide lockdown owing to COVID-19. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 leaders from South African businesses of varying sizes, but all in significant local markets. Content analysis using CAQDAS was used to analyse the primary data, using both inductive and deductive coding methods. Results: South African businesses use a combination of financial and non-financial project selection criteria across four main goals and benefit categories: customer experience, operational efficiency, business culture, and traditional project evaluation. The fifth proposed goal (new business models) was not used to evaluate DT projects. The most influential technologies that drive the selection of DT projects were data-related, such as data storage, data processing, machine learning, and data-driven decision-making. Conclusion: Companies in South Africa can use traditional project evaluation criteria together with several new criteria to determine the value of DT projects more holistically. This study also suggests several key practical takeaways for businesses that are aspiring to implement their own DT projects. © 2022. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS.

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数字化转型项目的目标和收益:对项目选择标准的洞察

背景:数字化转型(DT)是一个与企业保持竞争力越来越相关的概念。由于DT项目对组织具有破坏性，并且与传统的信息技术项目有很大不同，因此在实施之前了解具体的DT项目将为组织带来的价值是很重要的，这样才能对DT项目组合进行最佳管理。目的:本研究旨在确定DT项目的关键目标和效益，以及南非企业DT项目的选择标准。该研究还探讨了推动DT项目实施的最具影响力的技术。背景:南非是一个新兴经济体。这项研究是在因COVID-19而全国封锁的初始阶段进行的。方法:对来自南非不同规模企业的11位领导人进行了半结构化访谈，但都在重要的当地市场。采用CAQDAS进行内容分析，采用归纳编码和演绎编码两种方法对原始数据进行分析。结果:南非企业在四个主要目标和效益类别中结合使用金融和非金融项目选择标准:客户体验、运营效率、企业文化和传统项目评估。第五个提议的目标(新业务模型)没有用于评估DT项目。推动DT项目选择的最具影响力的技术是与数据相关的技术，如数据存储、数据处理、机器学习和数据驱动决策。结论:南非的公司可以使用传统的项目评估标准和几个新的标准来更全面地确定DT项目的价值。这项研究还为那些渴望实施自己的DT项目的企业提出了几个关键的实用建议。©2022。作者。被许可方:小岛屿国家联盟。

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来源期刊

South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences Multiple-

CiteScore

2.30

自引率

9.10%

发文量

审稿时长

52 weeks

期刊介绍： The South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences (SAJEMS) is a leading South African-based publication for interdisciplinary research in the economic and management sciences. The journal publishes and disseminates high-quality academic articles that contribute to the better understanding of the interaction between economic, environmental and social perspectives as applicable to the broader management sciences in an African environment. The editorial board therefore invites authors to submit their research from areas such as economics, finance, accounting, human capital, marketing and other related disciplines that break down common intellectual silos and prepares a new path for debate on the operation and development of sustainable markets and organisations as relevant to the broader African context.