The Role of Transformational Leadership in Managing Organizational Change in the Era of Digital Transformation

Silvia Faradila; Sugiarto Arto

doi:10.51903/wk3vxv25

Authors

Silvia Faradila Universitas Negri Surabaya, Surabaya, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia
Sugiarto Arto Universitas Negri Surabaya, Surabaya, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51903/wk3vxv25

Keywords:

Transformational Leadership, Organizational Change, Digital Transformation, Organizational Readiness, Change Management

Abstract

Digital transformation has become a strategic imperative for organizations seeking to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven environment; however, many transformation initiatives fail due to limited leadership effectiveness and inadequate organizational readiness. This study aims to examine the influence of transformational leadership on the success of digital transformation, with organizational readiness positioned as a mediating variable. A mixed methods approach with a sequential explanatory design was employed, involving 200 respondents in the quantitative phase selected through stratified random sampling and 10 key informants in the qualitative phase selected purposively. Quantitative data were analyzed using PLS-SEM to test the structural relationships among variables, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis to enrich interpretation of the statistical findings. The results indicate that transformational leadership has a positive and significant effect on digital transformation success, both directly and indirectly through organizational readiness. These findings highlight the importance of leadership practices that foster commitment, confidence, and adaptive capacity within organizations. The study contributes theoretically by reinforcing the mediating role of organizational readiness in digital change processes and practically by offering strategic insights for leaders managing digital transformation initiatives.

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