Dijital Liderin Yarattığı Dip Dalga: Dijital Dönüşüme ve Liderliğe Çalışan Perspektifinden Derinlemesine Bir Analiz

Nida Palabıyık

doi:10.37880/cumuiibf.1673176

TR EN

Dijital Liderin Yarattığı Dip Dalga: Dijital Dönüşüme ve Liderliğe Çalışan Perspektifinden Derinlemesine Bir Analiz

Öz

Bu çalışma, Türkiye’deki küçük ve orta ölçekli işletmelerde çalışanların dijital liderlik algılarının, dijital dönüşüme yönelik bakış açılarını nasıl etkilediğini incelemektedir. Dijital dönüşümün, çalışan algıları vasıtasıyla örgüt içinde yayılan “dip dalga” etkisiyle şekillendiği varsayımından hareketle, çalışanların yöneticilerine ilişkin dijital liderlik algılarının dijital dönüşüm sürecine yönelik bakış açıları üzerindeki etki analiz edilmiştir. Ayrıca, çalışanların dijital liderlik ve dijital dönüşüm algıları itibariyle örgüt içinde oluşturdukları farklı algı profilleri analiz edilmiştir. Bu analizler, SPSS, Lisrel ve Jamovi yazılımları kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın ilk bulgusu, çalışanların yöneticilerini dijital lider olarak algılama düzeyleri arttıkça, dijital dönüşüm sürecine yönelik olumlu tutumlarının da arttığını göstermektedir. İkinci bulgu ise, çalışanların dijital liderlik ve dönüşüm algılarına göre anlamlı ve içeriksel olarak farklı gizil sınıflar oluşturduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Bu sınıflar, içeriklerine göre olumlu dip dalga oluşturanlar, değişim karşıtları, kararsızlar, olumsuz dip dalga oluşturanlar şeklinde isimlendirilmiştir. Olumlu dip dalga oluşturanlar sınıfı, dijital liderlik ve dijital dönüşüm algıları yüksek olan çalışanlardan oluşmaktadır. Değişim karşıtları sınıfı, dijital liderlik algısı yüksek olmasına rağmen dijital dönüşüm algısı düşük olan çalışanlardan oluşmaktadır. Kararsızlar sınıfı, dijital liderlik ve dijital dönüşüm algıları orta düzeyde olan çalışanları kapsamaktadır. Olumsuz dip dalga oluşturanlar sınıfı ise, dijital liderlik ve dijital dönüşüm algıları düşük olan çalışanları kapsamaktadır. Bu bulgular, dönüşüm sürecinin örgüt içinde homojen değil, çok katmanlı ve dinamik bir yapı sergilediğini; algı farklılıklarının dönüşüm stratejileri üzerinde belirleyici alabileceğini göstermektedir. Çalışma, dijital liderlik ve dönüşüm süreçlerinin yönetsel gerekliliklerin ötesine uzanarak çalışan merkezli etkileşimler çerçevesinde de ele alınması yönünde alan yazına katkı sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

The Ripple Effect Created by The Digital Leader: An In-Depth Analysis of Digital Transformation and Leadership from The Employee Perspective

Abstract

This study investigates how employees’ perceptions of digital leadership influence their perspectives on digital transformation within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey. Building on the assumption that digital transformation unfolds through a "ripple effect" driven by employee perceptions, the study explores the formation of employee perception profiles regarding the transformation process. In addition, the different perception profiles that employees create within the organization in terms of their perceptions of digital leadership and digital transformation were analyzed. These analyses were conducted using SPSS, Lisrel and Jamovi software. The first key finding reveals that as employees' perception of their managers as digital leaders increases, their attitudes toward digital transformation become more positive. The second finding revealed that employees formed significant and contextually different latent classes according to their perceptions of digital leadership and transformation. These latent classes were named as the positive ripple effect creators, the change resistors, the undecided, and the negative ripple effect creators according to their content. The class of positive ripple effect creators consists of employees with high perceptions of digital leadership and digital transformation. The change resistors class consists of employees who have a high perception of digital leadership but a low perception of digital transformation. The undecided class includes employees with moderate perceptions of digital leadership and digital transformation. On the other hand, the negative ripple effect creators class includes employees with low perceptions of digital leadership and digital transformation. These results suggest that the transformation process does not manifest uniformly across the organization but rather follows a multilayered and dynamic structure shaped by perceptual differences. The study contributes to the literature in the direction of addressing digital leadership and transformation processes within the framework of employee-centered interactions by extending beyond managerial requirements.

Keywords

Kaynakça

Adalı, M. (2023). Dijital liderliğin örgütsel yapı ve ağlarına etkisi üzerine ATO’ya kayıtlı KOBİlerde araştırma (Doktora Tezi). İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi.
Aityassine, F. L. Y., Alzoubi, A. E., & Al-Momani, A. M. (2024). The relationship between leadership agility and entrepreneurial resilience among Jordanian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A. S. Aydiner, M. M. Hasan, M. A. Rjoub, & A. M. A. Musleh Al-Sartawi (Eds.), Business analytical capabilities and artificial intelligence-enabled analytics: Applications and challenges in the digital era (Vol. 2, pp. 17–31). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57242-5_2
Akay, E. (2023). Örgütlerde dijital iletişim ve sosyal media. G. G. Ekşi, & N. Apaydın (Ed.), Örgütlerde dijitalleşme (s. 223-240). Nobel Bilimsel Yayıncılık.
Aksu M.V. & Taslak S. (2022). Dördüncü sanayi devrimi ve küçük ve orta büyüklükteki işletmelerin (KOBİ’lerin) dijital dönüşümü, Yeni Fikir Dergisi, 14 (29), 11-23. https://doi.org/10.57205/yenifikirjournal.1211439
Alabi, M. (2025). Technology acceptance and resistance: Understanding employee adaptation to digital tools. https://www.researchttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/388960193_Technology_Acceptance_and_Resistance_Understanding_Employee_Adaptation_to_Digital_Tools adresinden alındı
Alhamdany: N., Alhamdany, M. N., & Alhamdany: N. (2025). The mediating role of artificial intelligence strategy on strategic thinking skills and digital leadership at baghdad’s general company for electrical and electronic industries. A. Mirzazadeh et al. (Eds.), Optimization and Data Science in Industrial Engineering (s. 137-153) içinde. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81458-7_9
Asri, A. A., & S., D. G. (2020). Revealing the digital leadership spurs in 4.0 Industrial Revolution. International Journal of Business, Economics and Management, 3(1), 93-100. https://doi.org/10.31295/ijbem.v3n1.135.
Avolio, B. J., Kahai, S., & Dodge, G. E. (2000). E-Leadership: Implications for theory, research, and practice. Leadership Quarterly, 11(4), 615-668. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1048-9843(00)00062-X.

Băeșu, C., & Bejinaru, R. (2020). Knowledge management strategies for leadership in the digital business environment. Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, 14(1), 646–656. https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2020-0061
CEC Raporu. (2018). Management in the digital era: Report on the survey results. CEC European Managers. https://www.cec-managers.org.
Clemente-Almendros, J. A., Nicoara-Popescu, D., & Pastor-Sanz, A. (2024). Digital transformation in SMEs: Understanding its determinants and size heterogeneity. Technology in Society, 77, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102483.
Çorum İl Sanayi ve Teknoloji Müdürlüğü. (2023). 2023 yılı faaliyet raporu. T.C. Sanayi ve Teknoloji Bakanlığı.
Davenport, T. H., & Harris, J. (2017). Competing on analytics: The New Science of Winning. Harvard Business Review Press.
Deloitte (2023). Global Technology Leadership Study, Deloitte Insights.
Eberl, J. K., & Drews, P. (2021). Digital leadership -mountain or molehill? a literature review. F. Ahlemann, R. Schütte, & S. S. (Eds.) içinde, Innovation Through Information Systems (Volume III: A Collection of Latest Research on Management Issues) (s. 223-237). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86800-0_17). Springer.
El Sawy, O. A., Kræmmergaard, P., Amsinck, H., & Vinther, A. L. (2016). How lego built the foundations and enterprise capabilities for digital leadership. MIS Quarterly Executive, 15(2), 141-166. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429286797-8.
Erhan, T., Uzunbacak, H. H., & Aydin, E. (2022). From conventional to digital leadership: Exploring digitalization of leadership and innovative work behavior. Management Research Review, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-05-2021-0338.
Esenyel, V. (2024). Evolving leadership theories: Integrating contemporary theories for VUCA realities. Administrative Sciences, 14(270), 2-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14110270.
Fang, T. M., Ahmad, N. H., Halim, H. A., Iqbal, Q., & Ramayah, T. (2024). Pathway towards SME competitiveness: Digital capability and digital business model innovation. Technology in Society, 79, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102728.
Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312
Goodwin, T. (2018). Digital Darwinism – Survival of the fittest in the age of business disruption. Kogan Page Limited.
Griffith, D.A., & Hoppner, J. (2013). Global marketing managers: improving global strategy through soft skill development. International Marketing Review, 30(1), 21-51. https://doi.org/10.1108/02651331311298555
Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8
Intan, D., & Tjakraatmadja, J. (2024). Assessing the human dimension of digital leadership to successful digital transformation. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen, Ekonomi, & Akuntansi (MEA), 8(3), 1293-1312. https://doi.org/10.31955/mea.v8i3.4581.
Jelassi, T. (2024). Towards an internet of trust—UNESCO’s guidelines for the governance of digital platforms. G. Prastacos & N. Pouloudi (Eds.), Leading and managing in the digital era: Shaping the future of work and business education (Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation, Vol. 69, pp. 3–12). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-65782-5_1
Kane, G.C., Palmer, D., Nguyen-Phillips, A., Kiron, D., & Buckley, N. (2016). Aligning the organization for its digital future, MIT Sloan Management Review and Deloitte University Press, 1-27.
Kaygısız, E. G. (2018). Dijital darwinizm’e karşı stratejik bir yol haritası. 1. Uluslararası Ekonomi ve İşletme Sempozyumu (ECONBUSS), 763-770.
Klein, M. (2020). Leadership characteristics in the era of digital transformation. Business and Management Studies: An International Journal 8(1), 883-902. https://doi.org/10.15295/bmij.v8i1.1441
Kline, R. (2011). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (3nd bs). Guildford Press.
Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading change. Harvard Business School Press.
Lenkenhoff, K., Wilkens, U., Zheng, M., Süße, T., Kuhlenkötter, B., & Ming, X. (2018). Key challenges of digital business ecosystem development and how to cope with them, Procedia CIRP, 73, 167-172. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.procir.2018.04.082
Marino-Romero, J. A., Palos-Sa ́nchez, P. R., & Velicia-Martín, F. (2024). Evolution of digital transformation in SMEs management through a bibliometric analysis. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 199, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.123014.
Mason, R. B. (2007). The external environment's effect on management and strategy: A complexity theory approach. Management Decision, 45(1), 10–28. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251740710718935
Mihardjo, L. W. W., Sasmoko, S., Alamsjah, F., & Djap, E. (2019). Digital Leadership Impacts on Developing Dynamic Capability and Strategic Alliance Based on Market Orientation, Polish Journal of Management Studies, 19(2), 285-297. https://doi.org/10.17512/pjms.2019.19.2.24
Nyungu, L. M., & Wainaina, L. (2024). Strategic management drivers and performance of level four and five private hospitals in Mombasa County, Kenya, International Academic Journal of Economics and Finance, 4(3), 121-138.
Oldham, G. R., & Da Silva, N. (2015). The impact of digital technology on the generation and implementation of creative ideas in the workplace. Computers in Human Behavior, 42, 5-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.10.041.
Onan, G. (2024). Digital transformation and digital leadership in higher education institutions: Insights from the literature. International Journal of New Approaches in Social Studies, 8(2), 198–213. https://doi.org/10.38015/sbyy.1587587
Opland, L. E., Pappasa, I. O., Engesmoa, J., & Jaccheria, L. (2022). Employee-driven digital innovation: A systematic review and a research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 143, 255-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.01.038.
Peter, M., Kraft, C., & Lindeque, J. (2020). Strategic action fields of digital transformation an exploration of the strategic action fields of Swiss SMEs and large enterprises. Journal of Strategy and Management, 13(1), 160-180. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSMA-05-2019-0070.
Porck, J.P., Knippenberg, D.V., Tarakci, M., Ates ̧, N.Y., Groenen, P.J.F., & Haas, M.d. (2020), Do group and organizational identification help or hurt intergroup strategic consensus, Journal of Management, 46(2), 234-260. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/0149206318788434
Porfírio, J. A., Carrilho, T., Felício, J. A., & Jardim, J. (2021). Leadership characteristics and digital transformation. Journal of Business Research, 124, 610-619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.10.058.
Prince, K. A. (2018). Digital leadership: transitioning into the digital age (Doctoral dissertation). James Cook University ResearchOnline. https://doi.org/10.25903/5d2bdd672c0e5.
Robinson, H. (2019). Why do most transformations fail- A conversation with Harry Robinson. McKinsey & Company.
Roese, N. J., Dakduk, S., & Uslay, C. (2024). Educating marketers for the digital future. G. Prastacos & N. Pouloudi (Eds.), Leading and managing in the digital era: Shaping the future of work and business education (Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation, Vol. 69, pp. 397-412). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-65782-5_28
Sanayi ve Teknoloji Bakanlığı. (2023). Organize sanayi bölgeleri bilgi sistemi (OSBBS). https://osbbs.sanayi.gov.tr
Sağlam, M. (2021). İşletmelerde geleceğin vizyonu olarak dijital dönüşümün gerçekleştirilmesi ve dijital dönüşüm ölçeğinin Türkçe uyarlaması. İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 20(40), 395-420. https://doi.org/10.46928/iticusbe.764373
Sayyadi, M. (2024). How digital leadership is(n’t) different. MCE Quarterly, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381742484_How_Digital_Leadership_Isn%27t_Different.
Schiuma, G., Schettini, E., Santarsiero, F., & Carlucci, D. (2021). The transformative leadership compass: six competencies for digital transformation entrepreneurship. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 1355-2554. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-01-2021-0087
Schwartz, T. (2013). The ripple effects you create. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2013/05/the-ripple-effects-you-create
Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: a skill-building approach. John Wiley &Sons.
Silva, R., Mamede, H., & Santos, V. (2024). Clarification of the present understanding of the assessment of an organization’s digital readiness in SMEs. Emerging Science Journal, 7(6), 2279-2307. https://doi.org/10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-06-025.
Sürücü, L., & Maslakçı, A. (2020). Validity and reliability in quantitative research. Business & Management Studies: An International Journal, 8(3), 2694-2726. https://doi.org/10.15295/bmij.v8i3.1540
Sürücü, L., Şeşen, H., & Maslakçı, A. (2023). Regression, mediation/moderation, and structural equation modeling with SPSS, AMOS, and PROCESS Macro. Livre de Lyon.
Sürücü, L., Yıkılmaz, İ., & Maşlakçı, A. (2022). Dijital liderlik: Bir ölçek uyarlama çalışması. Abant Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 22(3), 1038-1050. https://doi.org/10.11616/asbi.1099012.
Tapscott, D., Lowy, A., Ticoll, D., & Klym, N. (1998). Blueprint to the digital economy creating wealth in the era of ebusiness, McGrawHill.
Taşdemir, M. (2023). Endüstri 4.0 ve liderlik. E. A. N. Yelkikalan içinde, Endüstri 4.0 Olgunluk Düzeyi Belirleme Araştırması: Biga Ticaret ve Sanayi Odasına Kayıtlı İmalat İşletmeleri Üzerine Bir Uygulama (s. 23-44). Livre de Lyon.
Taşkın, K. (2022). Kobilerde Dijital Dönüşüm Üzerine Bilim Haritalama Analizi. Bucak İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi, 5(2), 219-232. https://doi.org/10.38057/bifd.1183061
Temelkova, M. (2020). Digital leadership added value in the digital smart organizations. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology Review, Special Issue on Telecommunications, Informatics, Energy and Management 2019, 252–257.
TÜİK. (2023). Küçük ve Orta Büyüklükteki Girişim İstatistikleri. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Small-and-Medium-Sized-Enterprises-Statistics-2023-53543.
Ulas, D. (2019). Digital transformation process and SMEs. Procedia Computer Science, 158, 662-671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2019.09.101
Vial, G. (2019). Understanding digital transformation: A review and a research agenda. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 28(2), 118-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003
Volderauer, T., Raich, M., Bierscisch, A., Stummer, H., & Som, O. (2024). Strategic Responses to Employee Well-Being Issues in VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) Conditions: Expanding the JD-R (Job Demands–Resources) Model with Job Crafting. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 22 (14), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010014
Warner, K.S., & Wäger, M. (2019), Building dynamic capabilities for digital transformation: an ongoing process of strategic renewal, Long Range Planning, 52(3), 326-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2018.12.001
Westerman, G., Bonnet, D., & McAfee, A. (2014). Leading digital: Turning technology into business transformation. Harvard Business Review Press.
Yao, Q., Tang, H., Liu, Y., & Boadu, F. (2024). The penetration effect of digital leadership on digital transformation: the role of digital strategy consensus and diversity types, Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 37(3), 903-927. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-09-2022-0350
Yıkılmaz, İ., & Kör, B. (2023). Digital transformation in SMEs: A focused review of the research literature. İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi, 12(2), 661–679. https://doi.org/10.15869/itobiad.1267517
Younis, Z., & Shaaban: (2025). Investigating job satisfaction as a mediator in the relationship between digital transformational leadership and employee retention in public sector organizations, MSA-Management science journal, 4(1), 114-146. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2020.7.026
Zeike, S., Bradbury, K., Lindert, L., & Pfaff, H. (2019). Digital leadership skills and associations with psychological well-being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(14), 2628-2641.
Zulkifli, A. H., Soekotjo, E., Yusuf, Samdin, Zaid, S., Saefuddin, D. T., Madjid, R., & Rommy, N. (2025). Digital strategy, digital leadership, organizational agility, and digital transformation for agricultural business sustainability: a human resource management review. Journal of Global Innovations in Agricultural Sciences 13, 273-283. https://doi.org/10.22194/JGIAS/25.1526
Zwingmann, I., Wegge, J., Wolf, S., Rudolf, M., Schmidt, M., & Richter, P. (2014). Is transformational leadership healthy for employees? A multilevel analysis in 16 nations. Zeitschrift für Personalforschung / German Journal of Research in Human Resource, 28(1-2), 24–51. https://doi.org/10.1177/239700221402800103.

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

Türkçe

Konular

İş Sistemleri (Diğer)

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yazarlar

Nida Palabıyık ^*
0000-0001-8567-3711
Türkiye

Erken Görünüm Tarihi

19 Temmuz 2025

Yayımlanma Tarihi

25 Temmuz 2025

Gönderilme Tarihi

10 Nisan 2025

Kabul Tarihi

15 Temmuz 2025

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2025 Cilt: 26 Sayı: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.37880/cumuiibf.1673176

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA53MB39KT

Kaynak Göster

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Palabıyık, N. (2025). Dijital Liderin Yarattığı Dip Dalga: Dijital Dönüşüme ve Liderliğe Çalışan Perspektifinden Derinlemesine Bir Analiz. Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi, 26(3), 546-568. https://doi.org/10.37880/cumuiibf.1673176