Building dynamic capabilities that enable effective diffusion: the case of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in South Africa
Date
2021
Authors
Dlamini, Itumeleng
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Abstract
The process of digital transformation of an organisation is associated with the strategic change of an organisation’s capabilities enabled by the implementation of technological solutions. Critical to successful digital transformation are management practices in the form of dynamic capabilities, which direct the process of the strategic change. This exploratory study seeks to understand the influence of dynamic capabilities, specifically seizing and transforming dynamic capabilities, on the diffusion of digital technologies to successfully achieve digital transformation in South African development finance institutions (DFIs), who have embarked on a digital transformation journey. The study aims to provide managers of digital transformation in organisations with insights regarding the dynamic capabilities that enable diffusion of technological innovations in DFIs and similar institutions and further contribute towards empirical research on dynamic capabilities, specifically in the context of South African DFIs. A qualitative research approach, comprising comprehensive literature review and semi-structure interviews was followed to explore the influence of dynamic capabilities micro-foundations at various stages of the diffusion process of digital technologies. The research findings indicate that dynamic capabilities that influence the diffusion of these technological innovations. Specifically, the seizing dynamic capabilities micro-foundations that influence the innovation diffusion process were identified as (1) prototyping, (2) balancing digital portfolios and (3) building strategic agility. The reconfiguring dynamic capabilities micro-foundations that influence the innovation diffusion process were identified as (1) navigating innovation systems, (2) internal structures reorganization and (3) improving the digital maturity through developing digital culture initiatives
Description
A research report submitted to the Wits Business School, at the University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management (in the field of Innovation Studies), 2021
Keywords
Digital transformation, Technological innovation, Diffusion, Development finance institutions, Dynamic capabilities, Adoption, Strategic management