Digital Transformation in the Shadows? An Investigation of the Role of Middle Managers in Digital Transformation Strategizing

Digital transformation is key for organizations to fully capture the potential of digital technologies. While existing research proposes that top management has a crucial influence, middle managers' roles in formulating and implementing digital strategies are often less understood. Based on a multi-case study involving nine firms and 63 interviews, our study reveals how middle managers shape digital transformation strategizing and implementation through three mechanisms. These mechanisms are: 'redefining the status quo' in centralized approaches, 'bridging silos' in compartmentalized strategies, and 'reducing expectations' in collaborative efforts. Further, we show how these mechanisms are interlinked with the TMT's perception of digital capabilities required for digital transformation and their strategizing aim. This study advances existing research on the role of middle managers in digital transformation strategizing and implementation, how middle managers contribute to overcoming cognitive barriers in digital transformation strategizing, and the social construction of digital transformation.