Enhancing Digital Transformation Success in Education through Effective Stakeholder Engagement Strategies

Stakeholder engagement strategies have the potential for adverse education business outcomes. Education business leaders are concerned about the impact of ineffective stakeholder engagement strategies on digital transformation initiatives. Grounded in stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective stakeholder engagement strategies that business leaders use to enhance the success of digital transformation in education. The participants were six digital transformation leaders in the western United States. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a review of public organizational documents and online archives. Through thematic analysis, three key themes were identified: (a) stakeholder engagement strategies, (b) communication and collaboration, and (c) financial justification and analysis. A key recommendation is for education business leaders to implement personalized engagement strategies incorporating frequent communication, inclusive decision-making processes, and specialized training sessions. The implications for positive social change include the potential for improved educational outcomes through effective digital transformation, enhanced access to educational resources, and reduced educational disparities.