Digital technologies are changing how organizations operate, how decisions are made, and how societal practices emerge. Digital transformation is more than technological innovation: it affects ways of working, role perceptions, decision-making logics, and institutional structures.
We examine digital transformation as a socio-technical phenomenon: How do digital technologies – particularly artificial intelligence – transform workplaces, organizations, and societal practices? Under which conditions do acceptance or resistance emerge? And how can transformation processes be shaped in ways that provide orientation, enable development, and remain sustainable over time?
At the core of our research lies the question of how digital transformation can be shaped effectively, responsibly, and in a human-centered way.
Our research follows three overarching perspectives:
- Transformation Domains – In which areas does digital change become tangible, and how can these transformation processes be shaped?
- Transformation Narratives – How is digital transformation understood, communicated, and socially legitimized, and how do acceptance and resistance towards digital change emerge?
- Transformation Platforms – Which organizational structures enable learning, reflection, and sustainable change, and foster acceptance of digital transformation?
These three perspectives structure our research activities, projects, and knowledge transfer initiatives.
Transformation Domains: Innovation in Digital Transformation
Understanding and Shaping Concrete Processes of Change
Digital transformation becomes tangible where it changes concrete practices, roles, and decision-making logics. In this area, we focus on contexts in which digital change becomes visible, experienceable, and actively shapeable. The aim is to systematically analyze transformation domains and contribute to shaping them based on evidence, rather than discussing digitalization in abstract terms.
In this area, we investigate:
- how digital technologies – particularly AI and generative AI – change work, role perceptions, and organizational structures,
- how the digitalization of organized sports affects governance, participation, and value creation,
- how AI-supported decision-making and governance systems influence transparency, trust, and accountability,
- and how digital innovations can be designed responsibly from an integrated sustainability perspective.
A particular focus lies on researching digital transformation in a context-sensitive manner and deriving concrete approaches for organizations and societal actors.
Putting People at the Center of Digital Transformation
Acceptance, Well-Being, and Sense-making in Digital Change
Digital transformation succeeds only when it is shaped with and for people. Technologies unfold their impact only when they are understood, accepted, and meaningfully integrated into work and everyday life. In this area, we analyze the individual, social, and cultural dimensions of digital transformation.
In this area, we investigate:
- how technology acceptance and use emerge in both work and private contexts and how they can be fostered,
- how digital technologies affect well-being, mental health, and performance,
- the causes and consequences of technostress,
- and how narratives of digital transformation provide orientation, create meaning, and enable societal legitimacy.
A particular focus lies on the question of how digital transformation can not only be implemented technically but also communicated effectively and embedded socially.
Digital Change Management: Designing Transformation Platforms
Creating Spaces for Learning, Reflection, and Development in Digital Change
Digital transformation requires more than new technologies. Organizations need appropriate structures and processes to understand and actively shape dynamics of change. In this area, we investigate how transformation processes can be effectively organized and supported.
In this area, we investigate:
- the design of IT-enabled change processes,
- the dynamics of sense-giving and sense-making in transformation contexts,
- individual and organizational responses to digital change,
- and the development of effective change management strategies across different contexts.
A particular focus lies on the development of transformation platforms that enable learning, reflection, and sustainable change.
Completed Research Projects
Transforming Digitally (bidt)
Interdisciplinary research project on the role of digital tools in organizational transformation processes (in cooperation with LMU and FAU).
EGHI – Digital Health Assistance System
BMBF-funded project on the development of an AI-based assistance system to support healthy everyday behavior. The chair’s focus: users’ expectations, acceptance, and concerns.
Completed Research Projects
A central concern of our work is to actively transfer scientific insights into organizations, policymaking, and the public sphere – for example through presentations, workshops, practice-oriented studies, and through the activities of Prof. Laumer, such as:
- serving as a member of the supervisory board of OnStopTransformation AG,
- serving on the executive board of NIK e.V., the industry network of the digital economy in Nuremberg,
- acting as Special Representative of the President of the Bavarian Football Association (BFV) for the BFV Digital Strategy,
- contributing to the “Organizational Development” working group of the Bavarian Sports Federation (BLSV).
Contact
Digital transformation is more than the use of new technologies. It changes organizations, ways of working, and societal practices. If you are also interested in shaping digital transformation effectively, in a human-centered way, and sustainably, we would be pleased to exchange ideas with you.
Digital transformation requires more than technology.
It requires people, orientation, and dialogue.
Digital Change Management rethought.
From sense-giving to sense-making in digital transformation processes.
Transformation requires structure – and space for learning.
We explore how digital dynamics of change can be shaped.
Explaining transformation – not marketing it.
We bring digital transformation into societal dialogue.
Transformation succeeds only with people.
We investigate acceptance, well-being, and sense-making in digital work and living environments.