Designing an Effective Leadership Model in Digital-Centric Organizations Based on Thematic Analysis Findings
Keywords:
Leadership, Effectiveness , Digital-oriented organizations , Thematic analysisAbstract
The aim of this study was to design an effective leadership model for digital-oriented organizations by identifying and explaining the components and interactions of digital leadership in the context of technological transformation. This qualitative research adopted an interpretive philosophy and used thematic analysis to identify behavioral and conceptual patterns of effective leadership. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 managers and entrepreneurs active in Tehran’s digital startups and businesses, selected purposefully based on theoretical saturation. Thematic analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework to generate basic, organizing, and overarching themes. Four organizing themes were identified: (1) Transformational leadership in the digital context, encompassing daily digital engagement, continuous learning, and managing resistance to change; (2) Agility and flexibility within the innovative ecosystem, involving rapid decision-making, market adaptation, and resource optimization; (3) Effective communication in the digital era, emphasizing transparency, active participation, and digital collaboration; and (4) Employee empowerment and digital maturity, reflecting learning culture, digital skills development, and organizational digital culture. These converged into the overarching theme of “Integrated Digital Leadership,” representing a synthesis of technological and human dimensions of leadership. Effective leadership in digital organizations requires the integration of technological expertise, human competencies, and a transformational mindset. Digital leaders must leverage advanced technologies while fostering human capital development, promoting a learning-oriented culture, and ensuring agile decision-making under uncertainty. The resulting model offers both theoretical enrichment and practical guidance for achieving sustainable competitive advantage in the digital era.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Marzieh Nasiri Muselu (Author); Gholamali Tabarsa (Corresponding author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
