By Stefan Hanke, European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, shanke@europa-uni.de | Lauri Wessel, European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, wessel@europa-uni.de
Information system (IS) researchers can be seen as key change agents in occasioning positive societal change and playing a role in responding to “grand challenges”. In this monograph, we work with and advance literature about digital transformation (DT) towards how IS research can conceptualize and grapple with the design of IS artifacts for responding to such complex issues. We conceptualize DT as transformations of smart service systems (SSSs) due to the widespread use of smart technologies by individuals. We then further develop this literature toward a more sociological understanding of the practices within which individuals interact with smart technologies in their everyday lives. Based on providing these cornerstones, we move toward deriving specific suggestions for IS design of DT at a societal scale and, in doing so, contribute to research about DT, SSS, and IS design, respectively.
Information system (IS) researchers play a pivotal role as change agents, driving positive societal transformation and addressing “grand challenges.” Designing for Digital Transformation in a Society of Smartness explores and expands the literature on digital transformation (DT), focusing on how IS research can conceptualize and tackle the design of IS artifacts in response to these complex challenges. The authors conceptualize DT as transformations of smart service systems (SSSs) due to the widespread use of smart technologies by individuals. The monograph further develops this literature toward a more sociological understanding of the practices within which individuals interact with smart technologies in their everyday lives. Based on these cornerstones, the authors provide specific suggestions for IS design of DT at a societal scale and contribute to research about DT, SSS, and IS design, respectively.