Triad of Digital Transformation: Holistic Orchestration for People, Process, and Technology

Digital transformation (DT) is a critical area of focus as it disruptively transforms organizational business models, processes, and products. Despite being a prominent topic among information system scholars, the research has mostly centered around technological aspects, and there is a need to broaden the research approach to increase the understanding of DT's intricate dynamics, interdisciplinary nature, and cross-level perspectives, with practical guidance, while providing actionable insights for organizations. Through action design research, we elaborate a practical Digital-by-Design (DbD) framework grounded in theoretical foundations, to emphasize the interconnected dimensions of people, process and technology for enhancing DT feasibility and viability. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of DT initiatives by recognizing the significance of: 1) diverse organizational, process, and industry needs; 2) individual uniqueness concerning DT; 3) technology integration and scale-up patterns; 4) cross-level empirical perspectives; and 5) an interdisciplinary approach by supporting organizations when navigating DT complexities and dynamics. Recognizing the practical managerial challenges, the study offers a comprehensive guidance for designing and implementing a DT into the business processes.