A Successful Transformation of Work? An Exploratory Analysis on Requirements and Evaluation Criteria

摘要

The digital transformation of work is widely discussed by interdisciplinary research, but still, it is not sufficiently explored how different shareholders define a "successful" transformation. Our article aims to close this research gap via a two stepped exploratory approach. As a first step, we derived three dimensions from literature: Requirements, evaluation criteria, and potential conflicts. As a second step, we conducted two focus groups consisting of workers of different job sectors and levels of experience. Thematic qualitative text analysis revealed that successful transformation could be evaluated by an increased outcome quality, decreased working effort, better work life balance and employees' acceptance. It requires suitable competence acquisition programs and a participatory process and should avoid pressure by flexibility, conflicts between worker groups, and conflicts of skill or workforce structure. Results were discussed in order to provide validated instructions on how to supervise and encourage digital transformation, and how to ensure participation of less technology enthusiastic workers.