Resolving Belonging Tensions in IT Transformation Programs for Restoring Sustainable Equilibria

Sanmartin, Jessica; Hurni, Thomas; Dibbern, Jens (11 May 2021). Resolving Belonging Tensions in IT Transformation Programs for Restoring Sustainable Equilibria. In: European Conference on Information Systems. Marrakech. 14-16 June 2021.

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Successful IT business transformations require a departure from silo thinking in individual projects to a broader perspective in holistic, process-oriented programs. Such programs face latent paradoxical tensions that can become salient throughout their (re-) design and execution. Prior research suggests ambidextrous leadership by the program management team to resolve such salient paradoxical tensions. However, little is known about whether such unilateral and top-down approaches can restore sustainable equilibria or even trigger follow-up tensions between program-level objectives and project-level needs. Therefore, this study explores whether and how ambidextrous leadership to resolve strategic tensions can trigger follow-up tensions and how such follow-up tensions can be addressed to restore sustainable equilibria. To this end, we conducted an ethnographic study in an IT transformation program at a large Central European telecommunications company. We find that ambidextrous leadership is likely to create ripple effects by increasing belonging tensions between projects and programs, thus preventing sustainable equilibria. Moreover, we identify three ways programs and projects can address such follow-up tension. Our findings have significant implications for program management theory, paradox theory, and practice.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Division/Institute:	03 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences > Department of Business Management > Institute of Information Systems > Information Engineering 03 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences > Department of Business Management > Institute of Information Systems
UniBE Contributor:	Sanmartin, Jessica, Hurni, Thomas, Dibbern, Jens
Subjects:	000 Computer science, knowledge & systems 600 Technology > 650 Management & public relations 300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 330 Economics
Language:	English
Submitter:	Luca Giacomelli
Date Deposited:	09 Sep 2021 13:27
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 15:52
Additional Information:	Research Papers 108
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/158378