Impact of the Digital Transformation: An Online Real-Time Delphi Study

Abstract: The effects of the ongoing Digital Transformation of society are far-reaching and subject to a multitude of impact factors. Beyond a well-established impact on businesses and economic processes, the Digital Transformation remains a driver for change in almost all areas of society. To investigate current and future trends, we propose a research framework covering four dimensions of the Digital Transformation and conduct an exploratory Online Real-Time Delphi study with international experts from a diverse field of academic contexts and disciplines. Our study indicates the societal areas most likely to be affected by the Digital Transformation, the relevant issues and global challenges connected to and influenced by the Digital Transformation, and the impact of key digital technologies now and in the next five years. Given these results, we evaluate the research framework and our approach to investigate the most relevant aspects of the Digital Transformation.