ASSIGNMENT

Q1: Create your comparison table to illustrate the differences

between Digitization and Digitalization. Use the following table
structure:
Criteria Digitization Digitalization
Definition Digitization can be defined as Digitalization can be defined as
the process of transforming the process of leveraging digital
analogue data into digital form.tools to improve business
processes, models, operations,
and workflow.
Purpose The purpose of Digitization can The purpose of Digitalization is
be summarized as follows; as follows;

1. It allows for the easy 1. Businesses can better

storage and access of optimize their workflow,
information operations, and models
2. Information in digital through digitalization.
format can be shared and 2. By leveraging digital tools,
accessed easily from they can gather data and
anywhere in the world make data-driven
3. It fosters collaboration decisions
and sharing of new ideas 3. There is also the
and knowledge opportunity to improve
communication channels
around the business.
Examples  Converting historical  Introduction of online
physical documents into banking to complement
digital forms such as traditional banking
making pdf files of books  The evolution of houses
in libraries into smart homes
 Storing of audio and video powered by AI
files on online platforms  Telemedicine allows
 Reading or conducting patients to connect to
research online their doctors and
 Sending files like pdfs, healthcare practitioners
JPGs from one device to digitally
another  E-commerce for trading.
Q2: Based on week 1 reading materials, answer the following
questions:

2.1 Explain in your own words the significance of each Digital

Transformation skill, providing separate justifications for each skill.
According to the article Digital Transformation: Top 5 Skills You Need to
Succeed by Pallavi Kenkare, the skills required are Digital fluency, Data
Analytics, Digital Marketing, Cybersecurity, and Leadership.

For any organisation that hopes to reap the benefit of digital transformation,
both the leaders and employees of the company must be digitally fluent. While
the level of fluency can vary from complex skills like cloud computing to basic
Microsoft suite competency, digital fluency makes it easier for any organisation
to embrace and adopt digital change (Kenkare, 2022). In all, leaders must take
the lead when it comes to being fluent with the digital adoption happening at
their company. In so doing, they can better fill any gaps that exist between
management and employees.

Secondly, with the way companies gather data, it is important to be able to

analyse that data as well as visualize it. With tools like Python, R, and MATLAB,
is possible to analyse large datasets and draw insights from them (Kenkare,
2022). Hence, to be able to make data-driven decisions that can improve the
efficiency, and service of a company, it is crucial to be skilled at Data analysis.

Similarly, another important skill that companies undergoing digital

transformation will be in demand for is digital marketing. While it is important
to make a great product, it will be of no impact if they are not being bought by
customers. Today, most customers are online and can be reached digitally.
Hence, to reach customers digitally across various social media platforms,
digital marketing skills are invaluable. Also, with marketing becoming more
digital, a skilled digital marketer is a difference maker.

In addition, another valuable skill to have is cybersecurity. Most people often

ignore the role of security in the process of digital transformation. ThoughtLad
reported that in 2022, cyberattacks rose by 12.5% compared to 2021. With the
growth in cyberattacks and how they can cost companies their customers trust
and in some cases affect their bottom line, having cybersecurity skills will make
one successful in a digital transformative world.
Finally, Leadership is one of the most significant steps in digital transformation
as leaders help the company and its employees navigate every stage of the
process. Also, when it comes to digital transformation, company culture can
affect the way a company responds to change. However, a great leader will
lead by example and help other members of the company embrace and accept
the change.

2.2 Describe in your own words why employees’ fear of being

replaced must not be ignored during the digital transformation
journey.
When companies start a new initiative centered around digital transformation,
employees would often lean into the fear of losing their jobs. While the fear is
valid, companies must never ignore the fears of their employees. Firstly, the
investment into new technology for a company is expensive and its success is
dependent on employee adoption. Hence, if employees feel like the change
would replace them, there is a likelihood they would sabotage the process. As
a result, they were costing the company.

Therefore, to ensure success, companies must find ways to include employees

in the process and make them see each technological adoption as a tool to
make them more efficient in their roles (Tabrizi et al., 2023). In so doing, they
can maximize the effects of digital transformation. For example, rather than
have employees be afraid of AI stealing their jobs, a company can teach
employees to use AI to better deliver value in their current role.

2.3 Briefly explain in your own words why many critics think that
CEOs should not take tech vendors' offerings for granted when it
comes to digital transformation initiatives.
While critics might often ring the alarm on the hype of digital transformation
being nothing more than a buzzword (Samuels, 2022), CEOs have to evaluate
the value of any digital transformation initiative. Tech vendors want to sell
their technological solutions, however, every CEOs should question if the tech
offering helps meet its business objectives. Hence, by evaluating consumer
demands, business objectives, and the benefits of integrating a tech solution,
CEOs can conclusively decide on either to embrace the solution or reject it. For
example, the pandemic in 2020 and the preceding shutdown of movement
meant that most companies have to leverage technology to deliver their
services. For some, the digital transformation was to refocus on improving
their e-commerce platform, while others had to work out communication and
collaborative tools with remote access. So, be it cloud initiatives, AI, or
Automation, every CEO must be able to discern its value relative to their
business objective.

2.4 Describe in your own words the difference between a Digital

transformation plan and a digital transformation strategy.
The difference between a digital transformation plan and a digital
transformation strategy can be subtle. The phrases “plan” and “strategy” are
often used interchangeably, however they are different. When it comes to
digital transformation plans it involves what a business wants to do or invest in
to partake in digital transformation (Martin, 2022). Meanwhile, a digital
transformation strategy involves a set of actions a business performs using
technological interventions to outpace its competitors in specific areas of its
business. The table below better illustrates the difference between a digital
transformation plan and a digital transformation strategy.

Digital Transformation Plan Digital Transformation Strategy

It involves investments a business It involves actions a business decides
intends to make in digital to take to procure more customers
transformation
It is not coherent It is coherent and precise
It is focused on the actions and wants It focuses on how best to reach
of the business consumers and boost revenues
All plans are within the control of the The effectiveness of the strategy is
business customer-dependent

2.5 Illustrate, in bullet points, why digital transformation initiatives

have a high failure rate.
Below are some of the reasons for the high failure rate of digital
transformation initiatives;

 Digital Transformation can be a painful process for a lot of organisations

as it involves change
 Most businesses focus too much on the technological tools rather than
the business processes that would be changing (Kimberling, 2020).
 It requires a change in perspective in terms of both business processes
and employee adoption
 It can be hard to define the outcome of a digital transformation initiative
 It requires a culture change, especially with businesses that have no
experience with digital transformation
 People are the most important part of the digital transformation
process. Therefore, training and getting people to embrace the change
can be a hard task to accomplish.
References

Kenkare, P. (2022). Digital Transformation: Top 5 skills you need to succeed.

ZDNET. https://www.zdnet.com/article/digital-transformation-top-5-
skills-you-need-to-succeed/

Kimberling, E. (2020, July 20). What is Digital Transformation? here is

everything you need to know. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjAq1xjBv_4&t=5s

Martin, R. (2022, June 29). A plan is not a strategy. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuYlGRnC7J8

Samuels, M. (2022). What is Digital Transformation? everything you need to

know about how technology is changing business. ZDNET.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-digital-transformation-
everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-technology-is-reshaping/

Tabrizi, B., Lam, E., Girard, K., & Irvin, V. (2023, February 8). Digital
transformation is not about technology. Harvard Business Review.
https://hbr.org/2019/03/digital-transformation-is-not-about-technology