Table 4 Digital transformation to... | Emerald Publishing

Table 4

Digital transformation to implement complexity reduction and complexity absorption strategies

	Complexity reduction	Complexity absorption
Company Alpha	• Substitution of human labour in fabrication • Substitution of human labour in warehouse • Clearer detection of problem roots • Predictable information flows from shopfloor to strategic apex	• More timely information to top management
Company Beta	• Substitution of human labour in fabrication • Substitution of human labour in assembly	• Redesign of operative jobs to add control and management tasks • New roles • New organisation units to exploit business opportunities
Company Gamma	• Substitution of human labour in fabrication • Substitution of human labour in assembly	• Explicit vision to ensure coherence across digital transformation projects • Redesign of operative jobs to add control and management tasks • Digital technologies in support of R&D and process design • Top-down, bottom-up and horizontal information flows

	Complexity reduction	Complexity absorption
Company Alpha	• Substitution of human labour in fabrication • Substitution of human labour in warehouse • Clearer detection of problem roots • Predictable information flows from shopfloor to strategic apex	• More timely information to top management
Company Beta	• Substitution of human labour in fabrication • Substitution of human labour in assembly	• Redesign of operative jobs to add control and management tasks • New roles • New organisation units to exploit business opportunities
Company Gamma	• Substitution of human labour in fabrication • Substitution of human labour in assembly	• Explicit vision to ensure coherence across digital transformation projects • Redesign of operative jobs to add control and management tasks • Digital technologies in support of R&D and process design • Top-down, bottom-up and horizontal information flows