Kierując cyfryzacją z perspektywy naśladowcy  
[Leading digitalization from the follower’s perspective]

Erwin Ong (Katedra Badań Operacyjnych i Inteligencji Biznesowej, PWr, Wrocław)


Digitalization has emerged as a transformative force reshaping industries and 
workplaces worldwide. Thus, it creates a need for organizations to have effective 
leaders that can help them adapt rapidly to stay efficient and competitive. Using the 
lens of implicit leadership theory (ILT), this paper aimed to uncover the effective 
leadership characteristics and behaviors, along with its outcomes, during a 
digitalization from the follower’s perspective. A qualitative study with eleven focus 
group discussions among team members reporting to a supervisors or team leader across 
large scale companies in the Philippines were conducted. Using content analysis, the 
study revealed that being a hands-on leader that fosters collaboration and 
communication, motivates and empowers, supports and mentors, is considerate and 
trusting, and firm accompanied by an effective change management skills and 
technological familiarity, is what really matters to succeed successfully in leading 
digitalization. The digitalization that the participants went through consequently 
produced results, improved the team’s dynamics, enhanced accountability and 
ownership, guaranteed personal and professional growth, and improved the overall 
morale and job satisfaction of the followers. Findings of the study may provide 
guideposts for organizations as they prepare and develop supervisors and team leaders 
for digitalization initiatives.