•What is the impact of digital transformation on the overall importance of the middle management layer?
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Digital transformation has a complex and contingent impact on the overall importance of the middle management layer in organizations. Some scholars argue that digital automation threatens the strategic value of middle managers, while others see it as an opportunity for role accumulation and increased involvement in strategic activities . Middle managers play a crucial role in implementing digital strategy and can directly influence the success or failure of digital transformation initiatives . In some cases, middle managers can even drive digital transformation processes, operating without a well-defined overarching strategy . However, resistance from middle managers can also jeopardize the change process, particularly when they experience a loss of autonomy due to new digital platforms and rules . Overall, digital transformation requires redefining leadership requirements and emphasizes the need for other-centered leadership styles and soft skills such as empathy, humility, and understanding of digital technology .
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| The paper does not directly address the impact of digital transformation on the overall importance of the middle management layer. | |
25 Aug 2022 | The paper does not explicitly mention the impact of digital transformation on the overall importance of the middle management layer. |
14 Mar 2023 | The paper does not directly address the impact of digital transformation on the overall importance of the middle management layer. |
3 Citations | The paper discusses the impact of digital automation on middle-managers' strategic involvement, suggesting that it depends on the nature of tasks subject to automation and the middle-manager's expertise and role embeddedness. |
| The paper does not directly address the impact of digital transformation on the overall importance of the middle management layer. |
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