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Chief Digital Officers: An Analysis of the Presence of a Centralized Digital Transformation Role

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  • Sebastian Firk
  • André Hanelt
  • Jana Oehmichen
  • Michael Wolff

Abstract

By appointing a chief digital officer (CDO), firms decide for a central role responsible for their digital transformation. While CDOs have recently appeared in the C‐suites of firms across the globe, the current literature lacks insights into the specific antecedents of CDO presence. Grounded in the peculiarities of the digital age, we provide theoretical arguments explaining how the decision to centralize digital transformation responsibilities might be related to transformation urgency and coordination needs. Empirical analyses based on a panel data set of 913 US and European firms support that transformation urgency and coordination needs predict CDO presence. An additional analysis of moderating temporal effects reveals that, over time, the effect of transformation urgency is weakened and the effect of coordination needs on CDO presence is strengthened. We discuss implications for research and practice regarding the antecedents of CDO presence, TMT research more generally, and centralization in the digital age.

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  • Sebastian Firk & André Hanelt & Jana Oehmichen & Michael Wolff, 2021. "Chief Digital Officers: An Analysis of the Presence of a Centralized Digital Transformation Role," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(7), pages 1800-1831, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:58:y:2021:i:7:p:1800-1831
    DOI: 10.1111/joms.12718
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    4. Klaus E. Meyer & Jiatao Li & Keith D. Brouthers & Ruey-Jer ‘‘Bryan’’ Jean, 2023. "International business in the digital age: Global strategies in a world of national institutions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(4), pages 577-598, June.
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    6. Markus Menz & Sven Kunisch & Julian Birkinshaw & David J. Collis & Nicolai J. Foss & Robert E. Hoskisson & John E. Prescott, 2021. "Corporate Strategy and the Theory of the Firm in the Digital Age," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(7), pages 1695-1720, November.
    7. Fernandez-Vidal, Jorge & Antonio Perotti, Francesco & Gonzalez, Reyes & Gasco, Jose, 2022. "Managing digital transformation: The view from the top," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 29-41.
    8. Christofi, Michael, 2024. "The role of chief digital officer: Critical insights into an emerging field and road map for future research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    9. Shenghui Ma & Yasemin Y. Kor & David Seidl, 2022. "Top management team role structure: A vantage point for advancing upper echelons research," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(8), pages 1-28, August.
    10. Culasso, Francesca & Gavurova, Beata & Crocco, Edoardo & Giacosa, Elisa, 2023. "Empirical identification of the chief digital officer role: A latent Dirichlet allocation approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    11. Hanisch, Marvin & Goldsby, Curtis M. & Fabian, Nicolai E. & Oehmichen, Jana, 2023. "Digital governance: A conceptual framework and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    12. Lazar Raković & Slobodan Marić & Lena Đorđević Milutinović & Marton Sakal & Slobodan Antić, 2022. "What about the Chief Digital Officer? A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-14, April.
    13. Sun, Bing & Zhang, Yanfeng & Zhu, Kunyan & Mao, Hongying & Liang, Tian, 2024. "Is faster really better? The impact of digital transformation speed on firm financial distress: Based on the cost-benefit perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    14. Chakraborty, Imon & Nandhini, K. & Ilavarasan, P. Vigneswara & Edirippulige, Sisira, 2024. "Factors of front-end innovation in fem-tech startups: An empirical study," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    15. Huang, Heshu & Wang, Caiting & Wang, Liukai & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2023. "Corporate digital transformation and idiosyncratic risk: Based on corporate governance perspective," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    16. Liu, Zixu & Zhou, Jianghua & Li, Jizhen, 2023. "How do family firms respond strategically to the digital transformation trend: Disclosing symbolic cues or making substantive changes?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PA).

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