Digital Transformation and Organisational Identity Construction

To examine how digital transformation challenges organisational identity construction: it is the goal of the project "New Ways of Making Sense of Who We Are: How Digital Transformation Challenges Organizational Identity Construction," led by Dr Alessandra Zamparini, professor-researcher at USI Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society. The study is one of eight USI projects that received positive feedback from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) in the second annual round. Dr Zamparini, the project focuses on organisational identity. What is it about? Organisational identity answers the question, "Who are we?". More specifically, it concerns shared perceptions and understanding of the central and distinctive traits that make the organisation a unique entity distinguishable from all others. The concept of identity satisfies the need to develop a collective sense of self, articulate the organisation's core values, and act on deeply rooted assumptions about "who we are now" and "who we can become." In this sense, a clear organisational identity develops a sense of common purpose and a good level of identity and involvement. Organisational identity has important implications for individuals and has also proven to be a key concept at the corporate level for guiding strategic decisions, communicating with external stakeholders, and finally coping with major changes without losing connection with one's past and core values.