My thoughts on the phenomena What does “Digital Transformation” mean? Does it mean using cutting edge technology in our day-to-day work? How does that make it any different than “Digitization”?
I remember grappling with these questions a few years back. I decided to learn AI/ML and tried to get as much technology information as possible. Technology was at the center of my focus, and I was trying to arrive at “transformation” by using these fancy technological advancements. But things never added up. I saw everyone around me struggling to explain what “Digital “Transformation” really means or how to implement it at scale.
In March 2023, I was delighted to reunite with Dr. Rupesh Kumar Pati after 2 years. Under his tutelage at the Indian Institute of Management – Kozhikode, I discovered a radically different view on Digital Transformations. Through his trademark conversational-teaching approach, Dr. Rupesh unveiled a completely new perspective of defining and approaching Digital Transformations.
He forced us to ask ourselves, what is transformed as a part of a Digital Transformation journey? And the plain answer was, People! An organization comprises of people and processes. If you want to transform an organization, you cannot do so without transforming people. And what are people but a complex bundle of needs, beliefs, values, aspirations, inspirations. People will only transform if there is a need to transform, if the transformation aligns with their values and beliefs and if they are inspired enough that their aspirations will be met with the said transformation. And where does technology fit into all this? It is a mere tool, a catalyst, an enabler!
Thank you Dr. Rupesh, for making me realize that Digital Transformation is always of the people, by the people and for the people. Anyone who can realize this has just begun to understand how an organization can be practically transformed with people at the heart of the Digital Transformation Strategy.

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