SMU research reveals a gap between what C-suite and executives perceive about digital transformation. Reconciling these differences is crucial to making Digital Transformation work.
In a Nutshell
There is a gap between what C-suite and Executives understand and feel about Digital Transformation
Bridging the gap does not require any grand upskilling investment, but rather a focus on listening and communicating
When leaders and managers are able to really understand and address the concerns of the people they lead, they create an environment where people feel safe to contribute to the transformation effort
Key Findings on Digital Transformation Perception Gaps
In 2018, SMU published Cultural Transformation in the Digital World, a research report on how APAC organisations are dealing with Digital Transformation, and the challenges, opportunities, and issues they face.
Surveying both senior leadership and lower-level leadership and executives gave the study rare insight on the realities faced by leaders and teams dealing with digital transformation today.
The report surveyed 48 C-suite leaders across corporate functions and industry sectors in the APAC region and close to 500 mid- and senior level executives across industry sectors. The executives interviewed were tasked with implementation of digital transformation or affected by it, but not directly involved in strategy.
Some findings surfaced perception gaps on digital transformation between leadership and those under their care.
The study revealed a mismatch between what C-suite and Executives understand and feel about digital transformation and sheds light on the difficulty of getting an organisation on the same page.
These gaps need to be addressed by C-suite leaders—but not without first understanding the reasons behind the differing perspectives.
Differences in Perception
The SMU study highlights these differences in perception between C-suite and Executives:
1. Value to the Organisation
100% of C-Suite leaders believe emphatically that Digital Transformation is necessary for their future survival, while executives have mixed opinions about the value of digitalisation to their organisations.
2. Potential Impact on Jobs
25% of C-Suite felt that employees would resist Digital Transformation because of job insecurity, while only 17% of executives were concerned that their jobs could be at risk because of digitalisation.
3. Readiness of the Organisation
75% of C-suite believe that their organisations were less than half-way towards being ready for Digital Transformation. Among employees, 77% were confident that they were ready for it.
Learn more about overcoming digital adoption challenges in the Building Digital Confidence E-book.
Why is there a Difference in Perception?
This difference in perception is due to a number of possible factors:
1. A lack of clarity in direction affects communication
Digital Transformation by nature is dynamic and rapidly evolving. New technologies are constantly emerging, while others are gradually maturing, such as AI and machine learning. In a 2018 report highlighting the diversity of new business models and convergence of services and sectors, KPMG aptly states that “No normal is the new normal.”
The way forward is no longer a clearly defined path, but rather potential avenues of exploration. Consequently, the messaging can tend to be vague and general and focus on possibilities rather than definite goals. As a result, staff may not be able to understand how the changes are relevant to their specific context and so may not fully understand their significance.
2. Access to the larger context
C-suite leaders are closer to the change strategy and have access to a larger context and high-level viewpoint. They also hold more key information than executives, giving them a more realistic assessment of the state of the organisation, the need for change, and the potential impact of digital transformation and disruption.
The point of view of the staff is based on what information is available to them, how much of reality is communicated to them by those with a more comprehensive view.
3. Desire for political correctness and not to alarm
Staff may be shielded from the realities of digital transformation because of leadership’s political correctness. Leaders may hesitate in communicating certain realities in the hopes of not alarming the staff unnecessarily.
Leaders struggle to find a balance between presenting the market realities and causing the staff to be fearful. This may be especially so when there is uncertainty about the specific direction that the organisation should be taking. Not communicating the clear realities may have severe consequences.
The Impact of the Perception Gap
“Perception is demonstrably an active rather than a passive process; it constructs rather than records 'reality'. - MICHAEL MICHALKO, AUTHOR AND CREATIVITY EXPERT
When the value of digital transformation is not clearly communicated or appreciated, staff may have a lower sense of urgency. With a wrong perception of reality, they are not likely to move forward or prepare as needed.
C-suites’ perception of being less than halfway there is presumably more accurate because of their high-level view. But not sharing their perspectives may be responsible for a good number of staff lacking appreciation for digital transformation, as revealed in the SMU report:
10% of staff believed that analogue methods were better than digital
11% of staff believe that Digital Transformation is a passing fad
When the entire organisation is not on board, this contributes to the greatest risk to change initiatives—an insufficient engagement and buy-in from those involved in the change:
Insufficient understanding of the struggle of the people involved
Unable to engage all levels of staff and establish buy-in
How to Bridge the Perception Gap
Bridging the gap is a leadership responsibility. The leader is responsible for recognising and communicating reality, bringing clarity, and aligning the organisation’s perspectives on change and transition.
The issues behind the gap are not strategic nor technical in nature. Closing the gap does not require any grand upskilling programme, but rather a focus on listening and communicating.
These issues are addressed by leadership that is relational.
1. Clarify the larger reality for the team
Leaders must make sure that reality is understood but also provide the assurance that people will not be left behind. Leaders need to be upfront that it is a process of trial and error. Be sincere and vulnerable to lead the way for honest conversation.
“It is important that we understand our weaknesses, take an honest approach to address those weaknesses and have an honest dialogue to push the changes required.” - TRI PHAM, CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, TATA COMMUNICATIONS
2. Facilitate Open and Honest Conversations
It is essential to discover and understand others’ realities in the digital transformation process.
This involves listening empathically to the whole person – what the person is saying and not saying. Appreciate the importance of listening and catching emotional cues.
Alignment comes when staff feel like they are understood and that their concerns are being taken seriously. The SMU report also showed the there a significant number of executives who do not feel that leaders were in touch with challenges when rolling out initiatives.
3. Create safety to bring out the best ideas
KPMG’s 2018 Global Consumer Executive Top of Mind Survey reveals that 87% of today’s fastest growing companies foster culture and encourage innovation and change.
The SMU research reveals that many C-suite leaders have adopted the strategy of “micro-experiments” before making larger-scale investments.
Creating an environment of safety and innovation is non-negotiable for an organisation’s survival in the digital age. It requires a level of trust in the leaders to view failure as part of the journey and not something to be penalised. Leaders can create a safe space so that staff feel encouraged to contribute ideas and try new things.
“Agility and experimentation are really important and with that … creating an environment for people to learn, and not feeling like failure is a failure, but a part of a journey” - TINA LAWTON, REGIONAL DIRECTOR ASIA PACIFIC, SYNGENTA
4. Engage and challenge teams
Engaging staff most affected by the changes can provide very practical solutions to challenges. It allows the staff to participate and feel valued, and because they possess the operational expertise, they are able to problem-solve and achieve a breakthrough in their work, and for the team.
Leaders need to develop the skills to:
Motivate staff to do things differently and take on new challenges
Recognise and appreciate the change effort
Provide the support for staff to succeed: Equipping, support for lifelong learning
Translate broader strategy into relevant outcomes for themselves so that staff can see the direct relevance of their role
In a climate where uncertainty is prevalent, having a fully engaged team is going to be invaluable to be able to leverage the existing institutional knowledge to get onto the next growth curve.
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When leaders and managers are able to listen to staff, understand and address the concerns of the people they lead, and communicate effectively, this closes the gap. It creates an environment where people feel safe to contribute to the transformation effort. And it sets the foundation for a digital transformation initiative that has the best chance of succeeding.