Digital Transformation of Incumbent Service Firms: Legacy Removal Strategies

Paul N. Gooderham, Christine B. Meyer, Inger Stensaker, Frank Elter, Alexander Madsen Sandvik, Torben Pedersen

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

For strategic leaders of incumbent service firms, the challenge of digital transformation involves the removal of legacy IT systems without sacrificing critical income streams. We argue that the removal of these is a distinct component of the third core constituent of dynamic capabilities – transforming. Employing two case studies, DNB and Telenor, we explore the micro-level processes through which strategic leaders attempted to remove technology-related legacy to foster digital transformation. Both DNB and Telenor viewed legacy removal as critical for digital transformation. To theorize the micro-foundations of legacy removal, we examined the approaches top management either used or considered using to remove legacy. Our analysis revealed three distinctive approaches to legacy removal: escaping, shrinking, and terminating (‘big-bang’ versus ‘step-by-step’).
Original languageEnglish
JournalBeta
Volume37
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)1-22
Number of pages22
ISSN1504-3134
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023

Keywords

  • Digital transformation
  • Legacy removal
  • Incumbent firms
  • Strategic leadership

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