Exploring Capabilities for Digital Transformation in the Business Context: Insight from a Systematic Literature Review

Digital transformation is considered a high-risk investment due to the fact that as much as 80% of its initiatives fail. To effectively manage and execute digital transformation, organizations must establish capabilities tailored to this process. Thus, this study aims to identify capabilities essential for digital transformation in the business context. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted following the PRISMA. An initial search across major academic databases yielded 542 articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 43 relevant articles were selected for in-depth analysis. Descriptive, co-occurrence, and qualitative analyses were then applied. The findings reveal five core dimensions of digital transformation capability: digital dynamic capability, digital leadership capability, employee digital capability, digital technology and operational capability, and digital investment capability. These capabilities demonstrate that successful digital transformation depends not only on technology, but also on leadership, human capital, strategy, and investment that ensure resource readiness. This study contributes to digital transformation theory by identifying essential organizational capabilities and provides insights into how organizations can develop these capabilities to achieve successful digital transformation.

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Publication Details

Journal
Sustainability
Published
2025-05-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094222
Citations
8
Primary Topic
Digital Transformation in Industry
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
9.94
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article

Exploring Capabilities for Digital Transformation in the Business Context: Insight from a Systematic Literature Review

Muhammad Akbar, Afrin Fauzya Rizana, Iwan Inrawan Wiratmadja
8 citations
Sustainability
Digital Transformation in Industry
9.94
article

Exploring Capabilities for Digital Transformation in the Business Context: Insight from a Systematic Literature Review

Muhammad Akbar, Afrin Fauzya Rizana, Iwan Inrawan Wiratmadja
article en
8 citations

Abstract

Digital transformation is considered a high-risk investment due to the fact that as much as 80% of its initiatives fail. To effectively manage and execute digital transformation, organizations must establish capabilities tailored to this process. Thus, this study aims to identify capabilities essential for digital transformation in the business context. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted following the PRISMA. An initial search across major academic databases yielded 542 articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 43 relevant articles were selected for in-depth analysis. Descriptive, co-occurrence, and qualitative analyses were then applied. The findings reveal five core dimensions of digital transformation capability: digital dynamic capability, digital leadership capability, employee digital capability, digital technology and operational capability, and digital investment capability. These capabilities demonstrate that successful digital transformation depends not only on technology, but also on leadership, human capital, strategy, and investment that ensure resource readiness. This study contributes to digital transformation theory by identifying essential organizational capabilities and provides insights into how organizations can develop these capabilities to achieve successful digital transformation.

SustainabilityVol. 17(9)
Bandung Institute of Technology (ID), Telkom University (ID)
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Digital Transformation in Industry
9.94
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