MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Four Profiles of Successful Digital Executives

Research identifies four types of effective chief digital officers. Each offers different strengths and performance gains for organizations, depending on the context.

In the last two decades, digital technologies have transformed products, services, and entire business models, including the customer value proposition and the value creation processes. In many cases, new digital strategies have also made the transformation of business ecosystems necessary, creating a strong need for collaboration and coordination both within the company and with external constituencies. As a result, companies are exploring the roles and duties of digital executives, their attitudes and skills, and the key factors that lead to a successful digital transformation.

About the Author

Fabian Reck is a PhD candidate at the University of Bamberg and a research fellow at the Research Center for Business Models in the Digital World (a joint venture between the University of Bamberg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS). Alexander Fliaster is professor and chair, Department of Innovation Management at the University of Bamberg and a member of the board of directors of the Research Center for Business Models in the Digital World. He is also a visiting professor at Toulouse Business School and Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.

Learn more about MIT SMR.