Digital Transformation; From Idea to Ideal

The “Digital Transformation: From Idea to Ideal” event, part of the Negaresh seminar series, was held on Saturday, February 1st, at Dana Energy’s headquarters. The session featured Dr. Mohammad Fazeli, sociologist and public policy researcher, alongside Ali Khoshahval, Dana Energy’s Digital Solutions Manager. Designed to explore the many facets of digital transformation in organizations, the event examined its impact on business models, corporate culture, and competitiveness. The discussion drew significant interest from colleagues across the company, including senior executives.

Digital Transformation: Beyond Tools and Technology

At the beginning of the meeting, Ali Khoshahval introduced the philosophy behind the Negarash seminars and emphasized the importance of a deep and strategic approach to key topics. He highlighted the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and its impact on various industries, describing digital transformation as not just a technological shift but a fundamental change in organizational models. He also presented a survey conducted among organizational managers, which revealed that over 70% of them view digital transformation as a valuable opportunity for their organization, though they also recognize the numerous challenges in achieving it.

Organizational Requirements for Digital Transformation

Dr. Mohammad Fazeli then delved into the dimensions of digital transformation, stressing that it is not merely about purchasing new technologies and digitizing processes. He outlined four key factors for success in digital transformation:

1. Mindset: Organizations must change the way their employees and managers think about digital transformation. A proper understanding of digital transformation, acceptance of change, and continuous learning are crucial elements in this domain.
2. Relationships: The interactions between managers, employees, customers, and data play a significant role in the successful implementation of digital transformation. Traditional organizational structures must adapt to these changes, or internal resistance will hinder progress.
3. Capabilities: Organizational and individual competencies in utilizing new technologies determine the success of digitalization. Many organizations invest in digital tools but fail to use them effectively due to a lack of human capabilities.
4. Problem-Solving Approach: Organizations must first identify the specific problems that digital transformation aims to solve for them. Many companies pursue modern technologies without a clear understanding of their needs, whereas digital solutions should be employed to address real organizational challenges.

Challenges and Realities of Digital Transformation

Dr. Fazeli also discussed the global challenges in the path of digital transformation. Citing credible research, he noted that 70% of digital transformation projects in large companies fail, and only 10% of organizations succeed in generating added value from these changes.

He also pointed out that 41% of companies embark on digital transformation without a clear strategy, and 45% fail to achieve their predicted goals even after significant investments. These statistics highlight that digitalization without strategic planning and vision not only fails to help organizations but can also waste their resources.

Another key point raised was the importance of data and its use as a strategic asset. Dr. Fazeli explained how companies like Amazon, Digikala, and Snapp have transformed their business models through effective data utilization. He emphasized that digital transformation requires a data-driven culture and that organizations that fail to properly identify, process, and analyze their data will struggle to succeed in digital transformation.

The Relationship Between Transparency and Digital Transformation

One of the key aspects that Dr. Fazeli addressed was the role of transparency and accountability in the success of digital transformation. He explained that many organizations, despite implementing advanced digital tools, continue to ignore data in their decision-making processes and rely on opaque relationships or managerial intuition. Referring to global experiences, he emphasized that organizations that do not use data for decision-making cannot achieve real digital transformation, even with the best technologies. In this regard, a data-driven organizational culture, transparent processes, and managerial accountability are essential prerequisites for success in digital transformation.

Q&A and Conclusion

At the end of the meeting, participants raised questions about the practical challenges of digital transformation in organizations. Dr. Fazeli responded to inquiries regarding the role of artificial intelligence in the future of industries, organizational barriers to implementing digital transformation, and ways to overcome employee resistance. He reiterated that digital transformation is a multidimensional process that, in addition to technology, requires changes in organizational culture, structural reforms, and human skills development.

The “Digital Transformation; From Idea to Ideal” event, as the second seminar in the “Negarash” series, once again highlighted the importance of deep thinking and strategic planning in the journey of organizational transformation. This meeting provided a valuable opportunity for our managers and experts to better understand the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation and, by integrating external experiences with internal expertise, chart a smarter course for the future.