Novel Management Model for Leveraging Leadership for Successful Digital Transformation in Telecommunications Enterprises

Digital transformation (DT) is crucial for improving telecommunications efficiency and competitiveness. This study examines the role of change leadership in driving successful DT in Vietnamese telecommunication enterprises, focusing on its impact on employee engagement, employee commitment, DT communication, and DT capacity. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative insights with quantitative data from surveys of management personnel overseeing digital transformation projects. Data were analyzed to assess direct and indirect relationships using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that change leadership is a significant driver of DT success with the strongest direct effect on employee commitment. Additionally, employee commitment and digital transformation communication positively influence success through their indirect effects on an enterprise’s DT capacity. Leadership plays a critical role in fostering commitment and aligning effort with DT goals. This study introduces a novel paradigm illustrating the interplay of various interrelated factors influencing the effectiveness of digital transformation, distinguishing it from previous studies that examined these factors in isolation. This approach provides novel insights, especially regarding Vietnamese telecommunications, a domain inadequately examined in previous studies on leadership-driven digital transformation initiatives.