Problems of Digital Maturity in Modern Business

Abstract

The worldwide process of digital transformation (DT) in the economy, which is currently affecting almost all spheres of contemporary business is somewhat controversial. On the one hand, according to the estimates of International Data Corporation (IDC), by the end of 2019 DT spending will reach $ 1.7 trillion globally and by 2021 more than half of world GDP will be related to digitalisation. On the other hand, while most business leaders acknowledge DT as crucial, just about half of them have some understanding of DT and its implementation. Even in developed countries, the real quality shifts are visible just over the last 2–3 years, and the companies are at different stages of “digital maturity”. That’s why this issue attracts more and more attention of researchers, experts and business people, especially in terms of not just technology implementation but preferably in terms of organisation and management. The purpose of this paper is to reveal these managerial issues and problems with particular focus on 3 points: first — on the attitude of business to DT and digital maturity; second — on key management issues facing business; third — on further research options and perspectives. The paper is based on the significant outcomes of several wide-scale types of research done in the USA and Russia over the last 2–3 years, which can reveal major management problems and challenges. Since currently at this stage of DT development, the research of this topic is at the beginning and just over the last several years the relatively big empirical data and best practices have been collected and analysed further in-depth research of operational, organisational, behavioural, strategic and social issues of DT is necessary. Besides its practical business side, it will allow better and more sophisticated understanding of the new 21st -century management paradigm as well as the inclusion of the findings and practices into the educational process.