Big Idea Future of Leadership in the Digital Economy

GUEST EDITOR

Michael Schrage

Research fellow, MIT Sloan Initiative on the Digital Economy

Since 2019, MIT Sloan Management Review and Cognizant have explored the implications digitalization has on leadership. In the recently released 2021 study, “Leadership’s Digital Transformation: Leading Purposefully in an Era of Context Collapse,” the authors expose a component of digital transformation that’s critical but often overlooked by leaders: themselves. The report offers actionable recommendations for leaders to more effectively lead their people and organizations in a time of blurred boundaries, rapidly shifting power dynamics, and general uncertainty.

The Future of Leadership 2021 Report

Report

Leadership’s Digital Transformation

New research suggests that digital workforces expect digital transformation to better reflect and respect their concerns and values, not just boost business capabilities and opportunities. In the current environment, leaders must pay close attention to how their leadership is experienced, and consider whether digital tools, techniques, and technologies are making their companies’ key stakeholders — including employees, consumers, and investors — feel more valued.

Michael Schrage et al.

Webinar

How Digital Transformation Disrupts Legacy Leaders

Michael Schrage and Benjamin Pring, coauthors of the 2021 research report, “Leaderhip’s Digital Transformation,” are joined by MIT SMR editor Allison Ryder to discuss key takeaways from the study.

Michael Schrage et al.

The Future of Leadership 2020 Report

Report

The New Leadership Playbook for the Digital Age

The 2020 Future of Leadership Global Executive Study and Research Report finds that leaders may be holding on to behaviors that might have worked once but now stymie the talents of their employees. Organizations must empower leaders to change their ways of working to succeed in a new digital economy.