Charismatic leadership behavior and digital transformation processes - an interdisciplinary review

This research article deals with the importance of charismatic leadership behavior in the context of digital transformation (DT). We analyze interdisciplinary literature to identify how charismatic leadership influences processes of DT and parse which specific behavior is important to these processes. We highlight the role of different leaders, from top managers to informal leaders, and explore how they can drive DT efforts through charismatic behavior. We identify four key processes of DT in which charismatic leadership has an important influence: the definition of the transformation strategy, the design and implementation of digital technologies, the introduction of new value creation chains, and their routinization. Charismatic leadership behavior is important in all phases of DT, particularly through the ability to communicate an inspiring vision, to exemplify the change, and to motivate the organization through ideals and values. We present a conceptual framework and conclude with a discussion on limitations and potential future research directions.