Intended versus Realized Digital Strategies for Business Transformation in Swedish Firms

Purpose and goal:

The main purpose of this project was to a) examine the partner companies’ intended digital strategies, b) design the next stage of this project to deliver critical knowledge about intended vs. realized digitalization strategies, and do so in close collaboration with partners´ needs, and c) to anchor the project in the partner companies.

Expected results and effects:

The project has studied different steps in digital transformations, with one partner firm executing its digital plans while another partner is in the strategic planning and capability development phase. At the same time, the commitments of the management at both firms were secured for the next stage. Thus, the project has reinforced the expected effects of the next stage and its capacity to deliver crucial lessons and development support both at the partner firms and in other business sectors.

Approach and implementation:

At the start of the project, the project parties joined a zoom meeting to define joint interests and work packages. This event was followed by focused meetings, and study visits to the participating Swedish companies. Together these activities helped to design further studies of intended and realized digital strategies, including examples of strategic digital development that could become case studies, and to formulate the objectives of the next stage in dialogue with the management teams.