Challenging Hierarchical Structure to Boost Technical Outcomes

As digital technologies are transforming businesses, the trend of digitalisation has also changed the ways we create value. Maximising value creation necessitates influencing decision-makers, especially in complex knowledge structures and network-based environments. This paper suggests the best practices of informal leadership deployed by technical experts aiming to influence others, especially formal leaders. Insights were gathered through interviews with Finnish technical experts and enhanced through consultations with international partners. The findings provide practices to manage work-related issues through human relations, and by doing this also challenge the hierarchical organisational structures. Crucially, informal leadership empowers employees to use their knowledge and competencies for the benefit of their organisations.