A Learning perspective of Digital Transformations provides a pedagogical tool for discussions about the nature of digital transformation projects. However, many projects include Digitisation, Digitisation, and Digital Transformation elements.
This perspective brings to the surface focused definitions of related words and phrases such as digitisation, digitalisation, and digital innovation. It integrates well with double- and triple-loop-learning, 4-axes, resource and capability-based-theories as with the triple-bottom-line of people-planet-profit.
Digital Resource: At the bottom level, we find the organisation or community with people and their competencies and access to resources such as digital media and computing resources.
Question: What are we, and what do we have access to?
Digitisation: At the next level, competencies or capabilities are converted from analogue working methods into the digital world. Examples include converting physical papers to digital documents that are sent through an email system.
Question: Are we doing things digitally?
Digitalisation: At the next level, the focus shifts to improving and optimising how the work is being done and how data is used in digital technologies while keeping the existing core ways of working, decision-making, organisation and responsibilities.
Here, criteria and principles for determining the right ways emerge.
Single-loop learning question: Are we doing the things right?
Digital Transformation: At the next level, the focus shifts to transforming the organisation using advanced digital technologies while keeping existing business models and organisational identity. Digital technologies enable process re-engineering, new ways to collect and use data, new kinds of partner collaborations, and new delivery of products or services.
Here, criteria and principles for determining what is right ways emerge.
Double-loop learning question: Are we doing the right things?
Digital (re)innovation: At the next level, the focus shift to the reimagination and innovation of the organisation and its business models, identity, products and services through innovation, designerly, critical, startup, and entrepreneurial thinking.
Here, criteria and principles for determining what right is emerge.
Triple-loop learning question: How do we understand & decide what is right?
Digital Transcendence: At the next level, the organisation focuses on finding its position and purpose within its environment and broader contexts. The organisation transcends itself to the planet, social communities, and economic system considering sustainability and social responsibilities.
Triple-bottom-line question: How do we understand & decide what is right considering the planet, social and economic factors?
More can be written about each level, but this is a basic pedagogical tool for an improved understanding of the levels of digital transformations.
Do you know what Right is to you?
/Enjoy!
