The Rise of Digital Transformation Strategists: Why Every Industry Needs a Product Innovator

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@article{1713635,
      author = {Anthony Ogechukwu Okolo, Queeneth Etelaowoni Ogbeche, Stephen Alaba John, Kehinde Oluwasayo Akinola},
      title = {The Rise of Digital Transformation Strategists: Why Every Industry Needs a Product Innovator},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2020},
      volume = {3},
      number = {12},
      pages = {453-462},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1713635.pdf},
      abstract = {Despite billions of dollars invested annually in digital technologies, a significant proportion of digital transformation initiatives fail to deliver meaningful competitive advantage or sustained business value. Most transformation efforts remain trapped at the level of technology adoption, fragmented process automation, or isolated innovation projects, largely because organizations lack clearly defined strategic roles such as Digital Transformation Strategists and Product Innovators capable of integrating technology, product innovation, and organizational change into a coherent transformation agenda. This growing disconnect has created leadership vacuum at the center of digital transformation. This study examines the rise of the Digital Transformation Strategist and the expanding strategic importance of Product Innovators as critical actors in contemporary organizational transformation. Using systematic literature review (SLR) approach, the study synthesizes evidence from strategic management, information systems, digital innovation and industry-specific transformation studies. The findings reveals that successful digital transformation is increasingly driven by hybrid professionals who combine strategic foresight, technological fluency, product-centric thinking, and change leadership capabilities. The study further identifies recurring patterns of strategic failure linked to misalignment between digital initiatives and product innovation capabilities. The study contributes to knowledge by conceptualizing the Digital Transformation Strategist as a distinct strategic role that bridges board-level strategy, product innovation, and operational execution. It further argues that the absence of this role constitutes a structural weakness in many transformation programs. Practically, the study offers guidance for organizations seeking to redesign leadership architectures, build product-driven cultures, and align digital investments with strategic value creation.},
      keywords = {Digital Transformation, Digital Transformation Strategist, Product Innovator, Digital Competencies},
      month = {June},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV3I12-1713635}
  }