Unpacking Approaches to Digitalization Strategy

Bibliographic Data

ID6446567
AuthorsJakob Kühler (0009-0002-4041-2424, Institute for Organization Studies Vienna University of Economics and Business Vienna Austria), Tobias Polzer (0000-0001-5235-3412, Institute for Organization Studies Vienna University of Economics and Business Vienna Austria, corresponding author), Isabella Proeller (0000-0002-2743-1316, Chair of Public and Nonprofit Management University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany), Sabine Kuhlmann (0000-0003-3515-7916, Chair for Political Science Public Administration and Organization, University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany), Justine Marienfeldt (0000-0002-0977-3769, Chair for Political Science Public Administration and Organization, University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany)
Year2025
Volume103
Issue3
Pages773-785
Publication date2025-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Administration (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-3298 • E-ISSN: 1467-9299
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/padm.13070
OpenAlexW4410933269
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited53

According to existing strategic management literature certain sets of alignments between the content and key elements of strategy enhance organizational performance. While local governments are increasingly adopting strategic approaches to manage digitalization, research that examines such alignments in strategy for digital change is scarce. To introduce such a relational perspective, we develop a framework for analyzing digitalization strategy. We show through a comparative case study that municipalities primarily choose to focus digitalization efforts on the improvement of services, often using “tried and tested” applications, rather than experimenting with the latest digital innovations. Yet, we observe misalignment in organizing and implementing for this strategic choice, eventually undermining digitalization efforts. We contribute to the literature that explains the nature of digital change by directing attention to the interplay of strategy elements and highlight the importance to view digitalization strategy as embedded in a relational structure of actors, contents, processes and structures

Business · Linguistics · Process management · Unpacking · E-Government and Public Services · Philosophy

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