HomeResearch & Knowledgeback to HomeDigitalback to Research & KnowledgeDigital Business Transformationback to Digital

Report

Digital Business Transformation

A Conceptual Framework

By Michael R. Wade

16 pages

June 2015

Download full report

PRINTABLE PDF – 4MB

There is a great deal of hype these days about ‘digital transformation’ – the term is often used but rarely defined. And although it can be summarized simply as ‘organizational change through the use of digital technologies and business models to improve performance’ – Digital Business Transformation is far more than this – it generally implies a holistic reimagining of the entire enterprise to focus on the value delivered to customers.

Meanwhile, new digital competitors and start-ups focus on precisely that: the value delivered to the customer – be it cost value, experience value or platform value, and increasingly in combination. In such circumstances, tweaking an existing value chain is unlikely to be enough. To win in the Digital Vortex, companies must be dynamic enough to understand the risks disruptors pose to their business and bold enough to be able to grasp the requirement for their own digital transformation.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Keep reading

Article

Hacking Digital 3: How to develop digital skills within your organization

Learning new digital tools, technologies, and business models presents both short-term and longer-term challenges. Here’s a quick guide to the essentials of getting your people up to speed and beyond.

Digital Technology Management

By Michael R. Wade, Didier Bonnet, Tomoko Yokoi and Nikolaus Obwegeser

in I by IMD

Article

Chief Digital Officer - How to design the role for success

The average Chief Digital Officer tenure is short. Learn how to design the CDO role for success by aligning priorities, governance, and leadership from the start.

Digital

By Michael R. Wade, Didier Bonnet, Tomoko Yokoi and Nikolaus Obwegeser

in I by IMD

Podcast

What if Europe’s biggest risk isn’t war – but running out of power?

In this edition of Leaders Unplugged, IMD President David Bach and Vestas CEO Henrik Andersen discuss Europe’s energy risks and bold leadership.

Leadership Strategy Sustainability Technology Management

By David Bach and Felix Zeltner

in I by IMD

Video

Novonesis CEO’s strategy for sustainable growth I by IMD

Novonesis CEO Ester Baiget shares how the Danish biosolutions leader uses science, AI, and culture to transform food, detergents, and sustainability.

Innovation Sustainability Technology Management

By Jean-François Manzoni

in I by IMD

Article

Hacking Digital 1: Building credibility as a new digital transformation leader

Credibility is difficult to build and easy to lose for any leader, especially newly appointed digital leaders. Here are some concrete actions and insights that will help you on the journey.

Technology Management

By Michael R. Wade, Didier Bonnet, Tomoko Yokoi and Nikolaus Obwegeser

in I by IMD

Podcast

AI unlocked: How LLMs will make experts out of everyone

In this edition of Mike and Amit Talk Tech, José Parra Moyano joins to discuss how Gen AI empowers leaders, democratizes analytics, and drives innovation.

Digital Leadership

By Michael R. Wade and Amit M. Joshi

in I by IMD

Article

Self-renewing organizations as innovations

Why is that we accept new product, process, and even business model innovation as normal, but significant organizational innovation not? After all, it is not as if our organizations continue to maintain their vitality as they age. Like fading iPho...

Organizational Change Innovation Organizational Design

By William A. Fischer

in Forbes.com

29 September 2025

Article

What do Yamaha, BYD and Nvidia have in common?

Through our research at the Future Readiness Center we have identified key principles that future-ready organizations, like Yamaha, BYD and Nvidia, embrace

Innovation Technology Management

By Howard H. Yu

in I by IMD

Podcast

Supply chains: How GenAI has gone from disappointment to game-changer

On this edition of Mike and Amit Talk Tech, IMD’s Carlos Cordon explores how generative AI is reshaping supply chains with new adaptive solutions.

Technology Management

By Michael R. Wade and Amit M. Joshi

in I by IMD

Case Study

From complexity to clarity: How ABB transformed its operating model (B)

Business Transformation Organizational Change

By Heather Cairns-Lee, Anand Narasimhan and Valerie Keller-Birrer

Hacking Digital 3: How to develop digital skills within your organization

By Michael R. Wade Didier Bonnet Tomoko Yokoi and Nikolaus Obwegeser
in I by IMD

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Digital

Technology Management

Browse all topics

What if Europe’s biggest risk isn’t war – but running out of power?

By David Bach and Felix Zeltner
in I by IMD

Summary

In this edition of Leaders Unplugged, IMD President David Bach and Vestas CEO Henrik Andersen discuss Europe’s energy risks and bold leadership.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Leadership

Strategy

Sustainability

Technology Management

Browse all topics

Novonesis CEO’s strategy for sustainable growth I by IMD

By Jean-François Manzoni
in I by IMD

Summary

Novonesis CEO Ester Baiget shares how the Danish biosolutions leader uses science, AI, and culture to transform food, detergents, and sustainability.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Innovation

Sustainability

Technology Management

Browse all topics

Self-renewing organizations as innovations

By William A. Fischer
in Forbes.com 29 September 2025

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Organizational Change

Innovation

Organizational Design

Browse all topics

From complexity to clarity: How ABB transformed its operating model (B)

By Heather Cairns-Lee Anand Narasimhan and Valerie Keller-Birrer
Case reference: IMD-2683 ©2025

Summary

The case study explores the second phase of ABB's 2018 to 2024 transformation journey to restore confidence in the underperforming conglomerate through a simplification of its structure and a focus on accelerating decision making. Under interim CEO Peter Voser and later Björn Rosengren (2020–2024), ABB decentralized operations, optimized headcount, enhanced accountability and empowered divisions to operate as independent businesses. Rosengren formalized the transformation as The ABB Way. On 1 August 2024, Morten Wierod assumed the role of CEO, inheriting a stronger, more agile ABB. To maintain momentum, the company needs to remain committed to operational excellence, relentless innovation and a strong customer focus. Moving forward, Wierod's key challenges include identifying strategies to build on the transformation's success.

Reference IMD-2683

Organization Asea Brown Boveri

Industry Manufacturing, Electric and Electronic Equipment

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Business Transformation

Organizational Change

Browse all topics