scholarly journals Alternative Futures for the Digital Transformation: A Macro-Level Schumpeterian Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zlatko Bodrožić ◽  
Paul S. Adler

This paper develops and deploys a theoretical framework for assessing the prospects of a cluster of technologies driving what is often called the digital transformation. There is considerable uncertainty regarding this transformation’s future trajectory, and to understand and bound that uncertainty, we build on Schumpeter’s macro-level theory of economy-wide, technological revolutions and on the work of several scholars who have extended that theory. In this perspective, such revolutions’ trajectories are shaped primarily by the interaction of changes within and between three spheres—technology, organization, and public policy. We enrich this account by identifying the critical problems and the collective choices among competing solutions to those problems that together shape the trajectory of each revolution. We argue that the digital transformation represents a new phase in the wider arc of the information and communication technology revolution—a phase promising much wider deployment—and that the trajectory of this deployment depends on collective choices to be made in the organization and public policy spheres. Combining in a 2 × 2 matrix the two main alternative solutions on offer in each of these two spheres, we identify four scenarios for the future trajectory of the digital transformation: digital authoritarianism, digital oligarchy, digital localism, and digital democracy. We discuss how these scenarios can help us trace and understand the future trajectory of the digital transformation.

Author(s):  
Hanaa Abdulraheem Yamani ◽  
Waleed Tageldin Elsigini

The current era is witnessing many changes on various levels. The information and communication revolutions are considered one of the important changes which has cast a shadow over how different institutions in society work via the phenomenon of digitization. As some of the most important institutions of society, industrial companies have been responding to this phenomenon of digital transformation to improve products and customer service while achieving a significant profitable return. This response by these institutions to the digital transformation has resulted in the emergence of the so-called fourth industrial revolution. In this context, this chapter reviews the definition of digital transformation as well as its dimensions, benefits, and obstacles. It also comments on the future of digital transformation and its relationship with industry. Ultimately it presents the fourth industrial revolution in terms of its definition, history, criteria, benefits, and the challenges it faces moving into the future.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 307-322
Author(s):  
Václav Pravda

Summary This article elaborates on the issue of recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in the Russian Federation. It is common knowledge that foreign companies seeking R&E in Russia suffered damage because of the broad interpretation of Russian public policy in the past decades. However, it is uncertain how the present judicial development appears like and where it will lead in the future. The article specifically considers two basic ideas on the issue at hand: one is slightly critical (Karabelnikov) while the second is rather optimistic in regard with the recent development (Zykov). The main goal is to introduce the issue to the respective readers and to try to inflame a discussion.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-34
Author(s):  
Afdal Makkuraga Putra

Political system in Indonesia after New Order regime has entered into a new phase, which is both fundamentally and practically different. With the growth of freedom of expression and the rise of information and communication technology (ICT), the use and practices of political communication is also striking a fair balance, two-ways direction, no longer dominated by government-only apparatuses. The use of internet and New Media in political communication realm has been pioneered since 1997, and has been growing ever since, thanks to the new practices of local election (Pilkada). This paper will address firstly, the theoretical framework of political communication in e-Democracy, and secondly, the application of New Media (website, blog, and social media sites) in local-based political communication, namely Pilkada in Banten at October 23, 2011. Having analysed the phenomenon in question, a surprising result appears. Even though all candidates of Governor and Deputy Governor of recent Pilkada Banten have used New Media as their communication and campaign media, nevertheless the interactivity factor embedded within those “New Media use” are largely neglected. Keywords: e-Democracy, political communication, New Media, interactivity.


Author(s):  
Gerald F. Davis ◽  
S.D. Shibulal

We are witnessing the emergence of an information and communication technology (ICT)-enabled platform capitalism in which traditional corporations are being displaced. Railing against traditional firms to rescue capitalism would, under these circumstances, seem like misdirected effort. The “working anarchies” (e.g. Uber, Wikipedia) and “pop-up firms” (e.g. Vizio) of this new world use “labor on demand.” Here too there is risk that platform owners exploit their power and become rapacious. Yet, ICT can enable platform capitalism to create community-based, locally controlled alternatives to corporations and states. Cooperatives and democratic software platforms (e.g. Linux) must be important business forms in the future.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026666692098340
Author(s):  
Kevin Onyenankeya

The future of journalism is being shaped by the convergence of technology and societal shifts. For indigenous language press in Africa battling to stay afloat amidst stiff competition from traditional media, the pervasive and rapidly encroaching digital transformation holds both opportunities and potential threats. Using a qualitative approach, this paper examined the implication of the shift to digital media for the future of the indigenous language newspaper in Africa and identifies opportunities for its sustainability within the framework of the theories of technological determinism and alternative media. The analysis indicates poor funding, shrinking patronage, and competition from traditional and social media as the major factors facing indigenous newspapers. It emerged that for indigenous language newspapers to thrive in the rapidly changing and technology-driven world they need to not only adapt to the digital revolution but also explore a business model that combines a futuristic outlook with a practical approach.


ITNOW ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-65
Author(s):  
Naveen Madhavan

Abstract Naveen Madhavan PhD MBCS, Senior Product Specialist (Pathology) at the NHS Wales Informatics Service, assesses how COVID-19 has changed our perceptions of the workplace and explores the likely lasting influence for the virus on digital transformation.


Episteme ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano Floridi

ABSTRACTThe paper develops some of the conclusions, reached in Floridi (2007), concerning the future developments of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and their impact on our lives. The two main theses supported in that article were that, as the information society develops, the threshold between online and offline is becoming increasingly blurred, and that once there won't be any significant difference, we shall gradually re-conceptualise ourselves not as cyborgs but rather as inforgs, i.e. socially connected, informational organisms. In this paper, I look at the development of the so-called Semantic Web and Web 2.0 from this perspective and try to forecast their future. Regarding the Semantic Web, I argue that it is a clear and well-defined project, which, despite some authoritative views to the contrary, is not a promising reality and will probably fail in the same way AI has failed in the past. Regarding Web 2.0, I argue that, although it is a rather ill-defined project, which lacks a clear explanation of its nature and scope, it does have the potentiality of becoming a success (and indeed it is already, as part of the new phenomenon of Cloud Computing) because it leverages the only semantic engines available so far in nature, us. I conclude by suggesting what other changes might be expected in the future of our digital environment.


Author(s):  
Laurie Lewis

This chapter explores the various ways in which opposing and/or contradictory entities unfold and play out with regard to change in organizations. This is undertaken from two different viewpoints. First, from a micro-phenomenological perspective it examines how insights derived from critical theory and other critical traditions have influenced the development of change strategies, interventions, and techniques. Second, at a more macro-level, it explores the extent to which particular schools of thought with regard to organizational change and organization development (OD) have embraced and/or resisted, the inevitable and unavoidable critical challenges and opportunities presented by opposing agents, competing interests, conflicting entities, and contrasting meanings in organizations. The chapter concludes by discussing the scope for, and possible directions of, critical change scholarship and practice in the future.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Che-Chuan Hsu ◽  
Rua-Huan Tsaih ◽  
David Yen

In the digital era, organizations are increasingly tasked with creating and utilizing new content, applications, and/or services through the use of advanced information and communication technologies (ICT) to sustain a competitive advantage. Indeed, sustainability is now an embedded and overarching feature of organizations’ strategic planning. Research has shown that information technology (IT) departments are vital to organizations’ digital transformation. However, the role of IT departments in non-ICT-oriented organizations undergoing digital transformation has yet to be explored. Our study reveals that although the IT departments of non-ICT-oriented organizations play an important and proactive role in the early stages of organizational transformation and a dominant role in developing ICT capabilities, they will be unable to assume a leadership role within the organizations after transformation is complete.


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