ABSTRACT

This paper discusses how established industries adapt to digital transformation. While digitalisation is perceived as an impetus for change, either due to the opportunities or threats it brings about, not all industries are able to change unlimitedly. We seek to understand digital transformation concerning products and services perceived to have a wider public value. Our empirical case is the newspaper industry in Norway, which has a strong collective identity tied to the societal function of independent journalism. We find that an industry with a resilient identity leaning towards preservation can learn how to use the digital space to adapt and innovate effectively. The adaptation and innovation processes are shaped by the interplay between the collective identity and the nature of digital work and innovation. The outcome is a continued emphasis on retaining the core mission but with an increasingly pragmatic approach to how and in what form it is safeguarded. Continuous collaborative experimentation and deliberation on the fit between innovations and the collective identity is a key change mechanism. Our study contributes to a better understanding of collective identities and their interplay with innovation.

摘要

本文讨论了成熟的行业如何适应数字化转型。尽管数字化被视为变革的动力，无论是由于其带来的机遇还是威胁，并非所有行业都能够无限制地变革。我们寻求了解被认为具有更广泛公共价值的产品和服务的数字化转型。我们的实证案例是挪威的报业，它具有与独立新闻的社会功能相关的强烈集体认同。我们发现，具有弹性身份倾向于保存的行业可以学习如何使用数字空间来有效地适应和创新。适应和创新过程是由集体身份与数字工作和创新的性质之间的相互作用形成的。结果是继续强调保留核心使命，但对如何以及以何种形式保护它采取越来越务实的方法。持续的协作实验和对创新与集体认同之间契合度的审议是一个关键的变革机制。我们的研究有助于更好地理解集体身份及其与创新的相互作用。