Currently, companies launch digital transformation initiatives (DTI) to cope with technological changes, challenging competitive environments, increasing customer demands, and other digitalization challenges. The DTI spectrum is broad and covers structural changes (e.g. dedicated digital units) as well as contextual changes (e.g. overarching cultural change programs). Often companies launch multiple concurrent DTIs resulting in considerable organizational complexity. However, research on how to manage the interplay of DTIs successfully is still scarce. Therefore, we distinguish three coordination aspects (i.e. strategic alignment, governance, communication & culture) to manage DTIs' interplay. Drawing on organizational and IS research as well as on a single case study with eight interviews, we conceptualize DTIs as manifestations of digital transformation. We show that multiple concurrent DTIs can foster structural and contextual ambidexterity, i.e. leading to hybrid ambidexterity in organizations. Thereby, we contribute to a better understanding of DTIs, their interplay, and their value to increase hybrid ambidexterity.

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Incumbent companies are launching digital transformation initiatives (DTIs) to cope with technological changes, challenging competitive environments, increasing customer demands, and other digitalization challenges. The DTI spectrum is broad and covers structural and contextual changes. Companies often launch multiple. concurrent DTIs, resulting in considerable organizational complexity. However, there has been very little research into the successful management of the interplay between DTIs. Drawing on five management aspects (strategic alignment, governance, methods/IT, people, and culture) and insights from three case companies, we elucidate DTIs’ interplay, illustrating that beneficial DTI interplay management leads to a complementary duality instead of a competing dualism in organizational ambidexterity. We explicate that multiple concurrent DTIs can foster structural and contextual ambidexterity, which leads to hybrid ambidexterity, concluding that contextual ambidexterity coheres and balances exploration and exploitation efforts. Thereby, we contribute to a better understanding of DTIs, their interplay management, and their roles to foster hybrid ambidexterity.

To enable new digital business models, pre-digital organizations launch entrepreneurial initiatives. However, in developing the required digital capabilities, pre-digital organizations often face challenges as they are marked by the ways they have historically established their organizational identity. Research on how pre-digital organizations can develop digital capabilities remains scarce. This study draws on a single case study to illustrate potential pathways for the development of digital capabilities. Two key characteristics are identified: the source of digital capability development and the set-up of the actors involved. The authors synthesize four possible pathway manifestations, discuss the dynamic nature of pathway combinations, and suggest that managing a portfolio of pathways may be crucial for pre-digital organizations. Therefore, the study contributes to a better understanding of digital transformation in pre-digital organizations. Furthermore, it provides guidance for practitioners to reflect on when deciding which pathways to follow.