Innovation in established industries undergoing digital transformation: the role of collective identity and public values

The authors find that an industry with a resilient identity leaning towards preservation can learn how to use the digital space to adapt and innovate effectively. The adaptation and innovation processes are shaped by the interplay between the collective identity and the nature of digital work and innovation. The outcome is a continued emphasis on retaining the core mission but with an increasingly pragmatic approach to how and in what form it is safeguarded. Continuous collaborative experimentation and deliberation on the fit between innovations and the collective identity is a key change mechanism. The study contributes to a better understanding of collective identities and their interplay with innovation.

The paper is published in Organization & Managment.