The impact of managers’ IT experience on the enterprises’ digital transformation: Empirical evidence from China

ABSTRACT

Digital transformation has become a primary strategic choice of enterprises in recent years. We use Chinese A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen as samples, use text analysis to describe the degree of enterprises’ digital transformation, and empirically test the impact of managers’ information technology (IT) experience on the enterprises’ digital transformation. The research results show that the managers’ IT experience can significantly promote the enterprises’ digital transformation and has strong robustness. Heterogeneity analysis shows that only when IT managers have information technology-related work experience, greater power, and stronger salary incentives can their information technology experience effectively promote enterprises’ digital transformation. Further research shows that the IT experience of directors, supervisors, and executives all contributes to the enterprises’ digital transformation. This study guides human resource management in enterprises’ digital transformation in developing countries. Enterprises should focus on diversifying senior management team backgrounds and strengthen the internal training and external introduction of IT management talents.

KEYWORDS:

• IT experience
• digital transformation
• text analysis
• branding theory

JEL CLASSIFICATION:

• D21
• M12
• M21
• M41

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).