Digital transformation and organizational power: exploring the impact of technology on work structures and authority
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51247/st.v9iS2.36Keywords:
digital transformation; organizational power; workplace technology; authority; organizational change; digitalization; labor relationsAbstract
This study examined the impact of digital transformation on organizational structures and power relations within contemporary institutions. The objective was to analyze how digital technologies reshaped coordination processes, authority patterns, and workplace interactions. The methodology adopted a qualitative descriptive approach based on purposive sampling, semi-structured interviews, documentary review, and thematic analysis. Twenty participants, including managers and employees from public and private organizations, contributed their experiences regarding the use of digital systems in everyday work. The results showed that digitalization promoted networked coordination, faster communication, and broader knowledge sharing across hierarchical levels. At the same time, authority became more distributed, as employees with technological expertise assumed greater decision-making responsibilities. However, digital systems also intensified oversight through performance metrics, workflow monitoring, and data-driven evaluation mechanisms. These changes revealed a dual dynamic in which autonomy and control expanded simultaneously. The study concluded that digital transformation should be understood not only as technological modernization, but also as a reconfiguration of organizational power, labor relations, and institutional culture. Contemporary organizations therefore require governance models that balance innovation, efficiency, employee autonomy, and ethical accountability in digitally mediated workplaces.
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