1st Edition
Digital Transformation A Strategic Structure for Implementation
With the advent of digital technologies, society is reshaping itself radically. In the last decade, digital technologies have brought fundamental changes in the industry and business environment. The holistic socioeconomic and industrial changes are a result of general-purpose technology aspects of digital transformation, which are rare and have inherent capabilities of self-transformation to bring long-term benefits across the entire global business environment. After the steam engine, electric generator and printing press, the recent development of digital transformation has created an opportunity with extensive sustainable and incremental influence for disruption and renovation. However, the most important difference between digital transformation and the previous general-purpose technologies such as steam engines and electric generators is the pace of technology’s penetration across the globe. To cope with the accelerated speed of global digitization, the digital transformation process should be accepted, adopted and adapted across society and business utilizing a multi-dimensional strategy. This book illustrates a strategic structure that covers Digital Challenges for Industries, Applicability for Digital Transformation, Digital Transformation Framework, People and Organization Structure, Capability Delivery Activities and Life Cycle Benefits.
How will businesses embrace digital transformation? How will organizations formulate a digital transformation strategy? How will they invest in digital technologies? To answer these questions, a strategic structure is created which can provide guidelines to businesses to create a framework for digital transformation that includes strategy, process, governance and funding. The exponential growth in data capacity (storage, process and communication) due to rapid digitalization has created infinite opportunities and different dimensions to businesses. Digital platforms have enabled alternative business models by deconstructing the traditional value chains. Agile concepts driven by design thinking have brought innovative perspectives with an environment of boundless disruption.
To run a company with sustainability and manage disruptions more consciously, the adoption of a digital platform with an appropriate strategy is the only viable option. Digital transformation (DX) goals and strategies should be in line with a company’s business objectives. The strategic structure explained in the book is a global framework that can be adopted by any profit or nonprofit organization. Like any other transformational process, digital transformation has created structural tension between "old" and "new". In this tension, employees play a large role and their clarity of thought regarding the transformation process is of paramount interest. To overcome this tension, companies need to orient as learning organizations, which will provide opportunities for growth in an ambidextrous environment, embraced with a digital ecosystem. The book explains how the structural tension between old and new can be mitigated by effectively involving all stakeholders in the transformation process.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
Chapter 1: Digital Transformation Overview
Chapter 2: Digital Challenges for Industries
Exponential Growth
Deconstruction of Value Chain
Disruption & Incumbency Factor
Economies
Chapter 3: Applicability for Digital Transformation
Chapter 4: Digital Transformation Framework
Strategy
Key Enabler
Digital Duality
Ambidexterity
Two Speed IT
Governance & Funding
Chapter 5: People & Organization Structure
Agility Trio
Structure
Agile Scale
Chapter 6: Capability Delivery Activities
Process Delivery
Enabler Delivery
Chapter 7: Life Cycle Benefit
References
Index
Biography
Nirjhar Chakravorti currently serves as Deputy General Manager for Tata Consulting Engineers Limited. In that role, he oversees:
- Engineering Consultancy Services for Steel Plants
- Asset Management for Steel Plant Equipment & Systems
- Application of Economic Principles in the Analysis of Engineering Decisions to ensure Business Sustainability
Previous to this position, he served as the Lead for Asset Integrity Management (Air Pollution Control Systems) at Tata Consulting Engineers Limited leading asset integrity management activities for steel plant Air pollution and dust control systems.
Nirjhar earned his BE in mechanical engineering from the Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College and received the PGDBM certificate from the Institute of Management Technology Ghaziabad CDL.
Reviewing masterful work by Nirjhar was similar to taking an expansion course in a technical field where my colleagues and I have had a great deal of experience. The exposure to digital transformation is expressed very well in written texts. Also, Nirjhar has demonstrated those concepts with some very clever illustrations as well. It will allow the reader to link the emerging digital ideas with the well-established traditional processes. We found this particularly effective in the discussion of transforming established digital systems to high speed 5G digital systems. In the highly competitive market, digital transformation is not only advantageous but mandatory. Nirjhar has meticulously highlighted the philosophy and architecture of the digital transformation with excellent writing and frequent illustrations.
The explanations of the essential changes required have provided us with an excellent guidebook on counselling our clients. Also, it has given us knowledge for improving the design, architecture, and equations we use in our current systems.
I enjoyed reading the book. Even though we are changing from current heritage systems to higher speeds, there are infinite growth prospects for digital analysis and communication. This book is a superb prelude to that eventuality.
- Dr. David G. Halloran, Chairman, Halloran Associates, Florida, USA
In the digital age, digital challenges are growing each day. Nirjhar’ s book brings up relevant topics of today’s fast-changing world. This book will help industries to cope with the new settings and learn to function in Industry 4.0.
This book is a great starting point and helpful for the readers to understand many of the problems and concepts the business world deals with daily. The book explains digital transformation by using a logical train of thought. Nirjhar has in-depth knowledge and insight that this shows throughout the book.
Whether you are at a beginners level or an experienced scholar in digital transformation, this book will be helpful for you.
- Alexandra C. M. Katzian, Undergraduate Research Fellow at Kirchliche Pädagogische Hochschule Wien/Krems, Austria
Nirjhar’s book on Digital Transformation is very resourceful for any company trying to adopt digital transformation as a journey and they can add this book into their inventory for their employees and managers as a reference. This book gives a thorough systematic process and steps what company can prepare them for before entering this transformation journey. Nirjhar has done a phenomenal job by collecting all data points related to the subject. This book reflects his knowledge and research works in the subject. I highly recommend this book to anyone trying to gather knowledge in this subject.
- Anuradha Chattaraj, Senior Director at Verisk Analytics, Jersey City, NJ
Nirjhar's book on Digital Transformation is a delightful guide, full of important information and illustrations for those of us who want to know about digital transformation processes. With the proliferation of digital and mobile technologies, it is the right time to learn about digital transformation. Strategic understanding of digital transformation is essential for all students and professionals irrespective of their field of work. What is the need for digital tools, how can it be implemented, and what are the essential elements for digital transformation? Nirjhar's book is the answer to all these queries. The most important part of the book is the digital vision and strategy that is mentioned meticulously. Nirjhar has written a must-read guide for anyone who likes to know about digital transformation.
- Dr. Apurba Shee, Associate Professor of Applied Economics, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK
