Skip to main content

Digital Leadership in Cross-Cultural Organizations: Insights from Swiss Healthcare Companies

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Information Systems (EMCIS 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing ((LNBIP,volume 502))

  • 121 Accesses

  • The original version of the chapter has been revised. The initial publication had a typing error in the name of the second author. A correction to this chapter can be found at https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56481-9_23

Abstract

The pervasive influence of digitalization is undeniable in the contemporary landscape. However, available tools and resources are often underutilized by many leaders. Accordingly, an effective digital leadership is vital for complex organizations in today’s interconnected world. Despite considerable attention to digital leadership, a noticeable research gap exists concerning its application in cross-cultural settings. Therefore, this study examines the role of digital leadership in Swiss healthcare companies, which serve as prime examples of global players grappling with cross-cultural complexities. The healthcare sector strives for efficiency through digital technologies and diverse global team management. Moreover, Switzerland, known for its advanced development, regulatory framework and multinational healthcare environment, offers an ideal setting for the research in this context. Conducting semi-structured expert interviews, this study provides insights to better understand the digital leadership strategies and challenges. Our findings highlight that effective digital leadership extends beyond technical skills, encompassing communication, collaboration, and cultural competencies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Change history

  • 25 May 2024

    A correction has been published.

References

  1. Westerman, G., Bonnet, D., McAfee, A.: Leading digital: turning technology into business transformation. Harvard Business Press (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Tigre, F.B., Curado, C., Henriques, P.L.: Digital leadership: a bibliometric analysis. J. Leadersh. Organ. Stud. 30, 40–70 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Brynjolfsson, E., McAfee, A.: The second machine age: Work, progress, and prosperity in a time of brilliant technologies. WW Norton & Company (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Schein, E.H.: Organizational culture and leadership. John Wiley & Sons (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  5. AG, BAK Economics, Grass, M., Fry, S., Vaterlaus, S.: The importance of the pharmaceutical industry for Switzerland (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Sağbaş, M., Erdoğan, F.A.: Digital leadership: a systematic conceptual literature review. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Dergisi 3, 17–35 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Martínez-Caro, E., Cegarra-Navarro, J.G., Alfonso-Ruiz, F.J.: Digital technologies and firm performance: The role of digital organisational culture. Technol. Forecast. Soc. Chang. 154, 119962 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Abbu, H., Mugge, P., Gudergan, G., Kwiatkowski, A.: Digital leadership-character and competency differentiates digitally mature organizations. In: 2020 IEEE International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ICE/ITMC), pp. 1–9. IEEE (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kayworth, T., Leidner, D.: The global virtual manager: a prescription for success. Eur. Manag. J. 18, 183–194 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Gierlich-Joas, M., Hess, T., Neuburger, R.: More self-organization, more control—or even both? Inverse transparency as a digital leadership concept. Bus. Res. 13, 921–947 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Soto-Acosta, P.: COVID-19 pandemic: Shifting digital transformation to a high-speed gear. Inf. Syst. Manag. 37, 260–266 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Sheninger, E.: Digital leadership: changing paradigms for changing times. Corwin Press (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ravasi, C., Salamin, X., Davoine, E.: Cross-cultural adjustment of skilled migrants in a multicultural and multilingual environment: an explorative study of foreign employees and their spouses in the Swiss context. Int. J. Human Resour. Manag. 26, 1335–1359 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Meyer, E.: The culture map: breaking through the invisible boundaries of global business. Public Affairs (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hofstede, G.: Culture’s recent consequences: using dimension scores in theory and research. Int. J. Cross Cult. Manag. 1, 11–17 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Gudykunst, W.B., Ting-Toomey, S., Chua, E.: Culture and interpersonal communication. Sage Publications, Inc (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Taras, V., Rowney, J., Steel, P.: Half a century of measuring culture: review of approaches, challenges, and limitations based on the analysis of 121 instruments for quantifying culture. J. Int. Manag. 15, 357–373 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Gertler, M.S.: “Being there”: proximity, organization, and culture in the development and adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies. Econ. Geogr. 71, 1–26 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Machin-Mastromatteo, J.D.: Information and digital literacy initiatives. SAGE Publications Sage UK: London, England. Inf. Develop. 37 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Scholkmann, A.B.: Resistance to (digital) change: Individual, systemic and learning-related perspectives. Digital Transf. Learn. Organ. 219–236 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hess, T., Matt, C., Benlian, A., Wiesböck, F.: Options for formulating a digital transformation strategy. MIS Quart. Executive 15 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Schwertner, K.: Digital transformation of business. Trakia J. Sci. 15, 388–393 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Carboni, C., Wehrens, R., van der Veen, R., de Bont, A.: Conceptualizing the digitalization of healthcare work: a metaphor-based Critical Interpretive Synthesis. Soc. Sci. Med. 292, 114572 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Groves, P., Kayyali, B., Knott, D., van Kuiken, S.: The’big data’revolution in healthcare: accelerating value and innovation (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Gobble, M.M.: Digital strategy and digital transformation. Res. Technol. Manag. 61, 66–71 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Seseli, E.M.I., Risakotta, K.A., Bawono, A.: The role of accounting digitization in entrepreneurial success in west java: quantitative study of efficiency, accuracy, cost reduction, customer satisfaction, and data security. ES Account. Finan. 1, 82–94 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Kushwaha, P.: Digitalization & Customer Engagement: Challenges, Opportunities & Future Prospects. International Bulletin of Management and Economics, VII, 8–15 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Pietro, C.: World Health Organization: Switzerland: health system review, 1817–6127 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Federal Statistical Office: Section Wages and Working Conditions. https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/work-income/wages-incomeemployment-labour-costs/wage-levels-switzerland.html

  30. Windisch, U.: Beyond multiculturalism: Identity, intercultural communication, and political culture—The case of Switzerland. In: Language, Nation and State: Identity Politics in a Multilingual Age, pp. 161–184. Springer (2004). https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403982452_7

  31. Daley, C., Gubb, J., Clarke, E., Bidgood, E.: Healthcare Systems: Switzerland. Civitas Health Unit, London (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Cachia, M., Millward, L.: The telephone medium and semi-structured interviews: a complementary fit. Qual. Res. Organ. Manag.: Int. J. 6, 265–277 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Laudon, K., Laudon, J.: Management Information Systems: International Edition, 11/E. Citeseer (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Seufert, S., Meier, C.: Digitale Transformation: Vom Blended Learning zum digitalisierten Leistungsprozess ‚Lehren und Lernen‘24. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Medien in der Wissenschaft (GMW) 29, 2016 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mahdieh Darvish .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Darvish, M., Laule, L., Pottier, L., Bick, M. (2024). Digital Leadership in Cross-Cultural Organizations: Insights from Swiss Healthcare Companies. In: Papadaki, M., Themistocleous, M., Al Marri, K., Al Zarouni, M. (eds) Information Systems. EMCIS 2023. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 502. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56481-9_19

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56481-9_19

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-56480-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-56481-9

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics