Digital challenges for sustainability in Asian countries – the role of resilient capabilities in Lebanese universities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of digital transformation (DT) on organizational resilience (OR) within the context of higher education in Lebanon. Drawing from Duchek’s (2020) capability-based resources approach, the authors aim to examine the mechanisms of OR and identify the core capabilities that enhance resilience during this period of major disruption. Design/methodology/approach In an era marked by uncertainty and complex challenges, organizations across all sectors must harness technological advancements and cultivate resilience to build a sustainable future. Resilience in the workplace has emerged as a critical factor. Like many other developing countries, Lebanon faces acute challenges in adapting to these changes. However, Lebanon’s situation is particularly distinctive as it grapples with one of the most severe financial and economic crises in its history. Amid these adversities, the country remains steadfast in preserving one of its most valuable assets: the quality of its higher education system. This situation prompts a pivotal question: How can higher education institutions (HEIs) in Lebanon overcome financial and economic constraints while sustaining their commitments to quality and innovation? The primary objective of this paper is to explore the impact of digital transformation (DT) on organizational resilience (OR) within the context of higher education in Lebanon. Drawing from Duchek’s (2020) capability-based resources approach, we aim to examine the mechanisms of OR and identify the core capabilities that enhance resilience during this period of major disruption. In pursuit of this objective, the authors adopted a qualitative methodology, involving semistructured interviews with 15 professors and 7 employees from both private and public Lebanese universities. Findings The findings reveal that DT plays a vital role in fostering OR by enhancing HEIs’ capacity to anticipate, cope with and adapt to challenges. Specifically, DT facilitates collaboration, optimizes the mobilization of organizational resources and fosters a flexible organizational structure supported by adaptive systems and agile processes. Furthermore, the findings highlight the role of social capital and behavioral preparedness (i.e. preexisting digital infrastructure) in enabling certain universities to effectively address emerging threats. These findings hold both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, they contribute to a deeper understanding of OR across multiple levels of analysis. Practically, they provide actionable insights into strategies and pathways that can strengthen the resilience of academic institutions in times of uncertainty. Research limitations/implications The authors acknowledge several limitations of this study, including its small sample size of only 22 interviewees. The authors, hence, propose several directions for future research. First, to build and expand upon the findings, future research should consider developing questionnaires and collecting data from larger samples. This approach would facilitate a quantitative understanding of OR and enable the analysis of statistical correlations among its various determinants. Second, the authors have found that the roles of anticipation and adaptation capabilities in fostering resilience require further exploration. Thus, future empirical and conceptual studies could focus more extensively on these under-researched aspects of the resilience process, providing deeper insights into how organizations can better prepare for unexpected events and learn from them. Third, future studies could also benefit from conducting longitudinal studies to observe the concrete practices and routines adopted during specific crises or adversities and how these evolve over time. Fourth, while in this study the authors have attempted to distinguish between individual and organizational levels of resilience, future research should delve further into the relationship between these levels. Investigating how resilience at one level can facilitate or influence the development of resilience at another level would provide valuable insights. Finally, future research could explore the drivers and antecedents of OR in other developing countries facing similar crises. Practical implications These findings hold both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, they contribute to a deeper understanding of OR across multiple levels of analysis. Practically, they provide actionable insights into strategies and pathways that can strengthen the resilience of academic institutions in times of uncertainty. Social implications The drivers and antecedents that emerge from our study, such as investment in artificial intelligence and information and communication technologies, social capital, developed learning process, sharing vision among all the university members, development of clear communication channels and implementation of a style of management less hierarchical, provide practitioners with relevant insights that would allow to set up a framework for OR to build a more competitive and sustainable university. Originality/value HEI can, therefore, successfully go through the constantly shifting digital landscape while offering their students a high-quality education, establish a flexible structure and implement robust systems and processes based on adaptability, flexibility and agility.