Study goals
To reveal the main dimensions involved in the digital transformation process and explore their interrelationships.
Relevance / originality
The study proposes an integrative digital transformation (DT) framework, overcoming fragmented approaches by articulating interrelated dimensions. It integrates dynamic capabilities, the resource-based view, and institutional theory, offering theoretical contributions and a practical guide for managers to address the challenges of digital transformation.
Methodology / approach
A qualitative meta-synthesis of 66 case studies (2018–2024) was conducted using data extracted from Web of Science and Scopus. The analysis, guided by the dimensions Who, Why, Where, How, and What, employed grounded theory to identify patterns and relationships in digital transformation.
Main results
The findings reveal digital transformation as a sociotechnical and dynamic process, shaped by actors, motivations, context, and practices. Success depends on adaptive governance, dynamic capabilities, and responsiveness to external pressures, varying by company size, industry, and region, within continuous transformation cycles.
Theoretical / methodological contributions
The study contributes theoretically by presenting a systemic conceptual model of digital transformation, methodologically by validating meta-synthesis combined with grounded theory, and practically by providing insights for organizational strategies aligned with the interactions among actors, motivations, context, practices, and digital transformation outcomes.
Social / management contributions
The study provides support for managers to develop digital strategies aligned with organizational context. It promotes adaptive leadership, collaborative innovation, and inclusive governance, contributing to more sustainable, responsive, and socially oriented practices in complex and dynamic digital environments.