MREV – Call for Papers: The Future of Organizations in the Age of Digital Transformation – A Critical Discussion Beyond Marketing and Buzzwords

Guest Editors:
Susanne Durst, University of Skövde (Sweden)
Serdal Temel, Ege University (Turkey)
Pia Ulvenblad, Halmstad University (Sweden)

Special Issue
The need for preparing for the digital transformation is a recurrent theme in the current public and academic debate. What is striking is that these debates are characterized by a strong imagery that praises the opportunities of digitalization in the highest possible terms (often pronounced by IT consultancy firms and IT scholars). Here it sometimes seems that it does not really matter what the problem is – the answer will come from the application of advanced IT technologies. In addition, it is played with the fear, which is amplified by uncertainty and ignorance, of people by using, again, a strong imagery that is geared to show that without a short-term realization of the digital transformation organizations (or even entire countries) will lose out. Likely consequences are obvious, organizations including policymakers approach the digital transformation by means of ad hoc solutions, e.g. the order of new software, thereby overlooking the crucial need of understanding the structural and cultural contexts that they are supposed to benefit. What if a too strong focus on digitalization in terms of collecting and storing data will actually lead to (even) more formalization and documentation in organizations (because it is possible to do it) and thus take away valuable time from focusing on creativity and innovation. If we instead talk about sustainable (or living) digitalization, what will we then imagine?

Against this background, from the research side, there is an urgent need to discuss the digital transformation and its possible differential implications on private and public organizations from a more balanced point of view. Thus it is claimed that researchers should approach the digital transformation and its consequences on organizations and their future with more scrutiny and reflection. As we know from research that (technological) innovation rarely yields the consequences expected.

Therefore, we encourage scholars and practitioners to share their reflective and critical ideas about the future of different types of organizations considering both the opportunities and challenges provided by the digital transformation. Submissions, adopting different theoretical lenses and world-views, using different research methods, analyzing different types of organizations (e.g. small and medium-sized enterprises) and exploring the topic in different cultural settings are strongly encouraged. Conceptual papers and contributions from disciplines other than business and management are welcome as well.

References

  • Dainty, A., Leiringer, R., Fernie, S., & Harty, C. (2017) BIM and the small construction firm: a critical perspective, Building Research & Information, 45(6), 696-709.
  • Kane, G. C., Palmer, D., Phillips, A. N., Kiron, D., & Buckley, N. (2015). Strategy, not technology, drives digital transformation. MIT Sloan Management Review and Deloitte University Press, 14, 1-25.
  • Katz, R. L., & Koutroumpis, P. (2013). Measuring digitization: A growth and welfare multiplier. Technovation, 33(10-11), 314-319.
  • Li, F. (2018). The digital transformation of business models in the creative industries: A holistic framework and emerging trends. Technovation.
  • Olleros, X. (2008). The lean core in digital platforms. Technovation, 28(5), 266-276.
  • Sebastian, I. M., Ross, J. W., Beath, C., Mocker, M., Moloney, K. G., & Fonstad, N. O. (2017). How Big Old Companies Navigate Digital Transformation. MIS Quarterly Executive.
  • Singh, A., & Hess, T. (2017). How Chief Digital Officers Promote the Digital Transformation of their Companies. MIS Quarterly Executive,16(1).

Deadline
Full papers for this special issue of management revue – Socio-Economic Studies must be submitted by September 15, 2019. All contributions will be subject to double-blind review. Papers invited to a “revise and resubmit” are due January 31, 2020. The publication is scheduled for issue 4/2020. Please submit your papers electronically via the online submission system at http://www.mrev.nomos.de/ using “SI Digitalization Beyond Marketing and Buzzwords” as article section.

Submission Guidelines
Manuscript length should not exceed 8,000 words (excluding references) and the norm should be 30 pages in double-spaced type with margins of about 3 cm (1 inch) on each side of the page. Further, please follow the guidelines on the journal’s website and submit the papers electronically by sending a “blind” copy of your manuscript (delete all author identification from this primary document).

Hoping to hear from you!
Susanne Durst (corresponding guest editor), Serdal Temel and Pia Ulvenblad