A survey on incumbent digital transformation: a paradoxical perspective and research agenda

Purpose Digital transformation (DT) is a major challenge for incumbent organisations, as research on this phenomenon has revealed high failure rate. Given consideration, paper reviews the literature DT in organisations to identify main themes and directions be undertaken. Design/methodology/approach The authors adopt systematic review (SLR) computational (CLR) employing machine learning algorithm topic modelling (LDA) surface discussed 103 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 2022 multidisciplinary article sample. Findings discuss five emerging from studies, offering state-of-the-art of established firms' literature. find that most topics revolve around healthcare, process renewal change, project management, changes value performances capabilities consequences products DT. Accordingly, overlooked by future could tackle, which concern sustainability contextualisation phenomenon. Practical implications further propose managerial insights equip managers with revolutionary mindset not constraining but, rather, integration-seeking. only about technology (Tabrizi B et al ., 2019). Successful initiatives require foster sustainable departure current organising logic (Markus, 2004). This study pinpoints prioritises role paradox-informed thinking can have sustain an effective digital (Eden 2018) allows building momentum facilitates process. Indeed, lagging behind shift “either-or” solutions where one pole preferred over other (e.g. or physical) embracing “both-and-with” balancing poles successfully fuse legacy (Lewis Smith, 2022b; Lewis Edmondson, 2022), enact renewal, build maintain DTs. outcomes adopting paradox practice are enabling creativity, fostering flexibility resilience and, finally, unleashing human potential 2014). Social insight will allow fail less often than reported rates, may imply organisational collapse, financial bankrupt social crisis. Originality/value offer complementing existing due focus context organisations. Moreover, advance paradoxical novel lens through proposing array questions new avenues research. Finally, help them thrive mindset.