Theorizing Community-Driven Digital Transformation Adoption : A Community Digital Transformation Enablement Framework

Abstract

Digital transformation (DT) entails not only technological change but also the enhancement of digital competence among participating stakeholders. This enhancement is considered a critical step for the successful inclusion of DT, particularly in underdeveloped communities. Unfortunately, these topics remain understudied. Additionally, IS research predominantly theorizes IT/DT adoption through individual or organizational lenses, often overlooking community-driven adoption in collectivist communities, where cultural values significantly influence IT adoption. Consequently, this study addresses this gap by theorizing how cultural values enable community-level DT. An interpretive case study was conducted across four communes. The study introduces the Community Digital Transformation Enablement Framework, which is grounded in the culturally embedded TTA—a theoretical construct comprising the values of solidarity, sympathy, patriotism, and resilience characteristic of Vietnam. This research contributes to IS theory by integrating cultural dimensions into the discourse on DT and offers actionable insights for practitioners seeking to facilitate DT adoption in less developed regions.