Business sorting in digital transformation
With the growing interdependence of technology and business, organizations face the challenge of integrating digital initiatives in a manner that aligns with their long-term strategic goals.
However, the complexity of this task often stems from the need to assess the current state of organizational processes, technologies, data assets, and workforce capabilities, while concurrently mapping out future requirements.
Business Sorting offers a structured and empirical approach to managing this complexity. Derived from the card sorting technique, which is widely applied in UX research to organize information architecture, Business Sorting allows organizations to systematically evaluate their digital transformation landscape across four key dimensions: business processes, technology infrastructure, data governance, and human resources. This paper aims to present the theoretical basis of the Business Sorting methodology, outline its practical implementation, and demonstrate its utility in organizational digital transformation.
Business Sorting is grounded in both systems theory and strategic alignment theory. Systems theory posits that organizations function as interconnected sets of processes, people, and technologies, where changes in one element may produce cascading effects across the entire system. Strategic alignment theory further suggests that organizational success is contingent upon the congruence between technological capabilities and business objectives. By synthesizing these perspectives, Business Sorting facilitates a holistic examination of the organization's current state, enabling the identification of critical dependencies and potential misalignments within the system.
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Methodology
The Business Sorting framework can be applied through a series of structured workshops, during which participants collaborate to assess and prioritize digital transformation initiatives. The following methodological steps outline the structured approach to Business Sorting:
1. Preliminary data collection and stakeholder engagement
Prior to the formal Business Sorting session, data is collected from across the organization, encompassing business processes, technology systems, data usage, and employee skill levels. This preparatory phase is critical for developing a comprehensive set of cards that represent the current elements of the organization’s digital environment. Stakeholders from key functional areas (e.g., IT, operations, finance, and HR) are identified for participation in the workshop, ensuring a cross-functional perspective.
2. Card sorting workshop
Phase I: Participants engage in a collaborative sorting activity, organizing cards that represent various components of the organization’s digital infrastructure. These components typically fall into the following categories:
This sorting activity enables participants to critically assess the current effectiveness of each component and identify gaps, inefficiencies, or risks that may impede digital transformation efforts.
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3. Mapping
Phase II: Following the current state analysis, participants undertake a second sorting phase that focuses on future digital needs. This phase involves categorizing and prioritizing potential initiatives based on their alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives. The outcome is a roadmap that details specific areas requiring technological upgrades, process automation, data governance improvements, and workforce development initiatives.
Critical aspects addressed during this phase include:
4. Action Plan
The output of the Business Sorting session is synthesized into a comprehensive digital transformation strategy. This strategy consists of a prioritized action plan that aligns digital initiatives with the organization’s overarching business goals. Additionally, it provides an implementation framework, detailing timelines, resource allocation, and measurable success metrics.
Discussion
Business Sorting ensures that digital transformation efforts are not confined to isolated technological updates but are integrated across business functions, technology platforms, and human resources. This holistic approach minimizes the risk of functional silos and enhances cross-departmental collaboration, thereby fostering organizational agility. By systematically evaluating the organization’s current and future needs, Business Sorting empowers leaders to make data-driven decisions. This methodology ensures that digital initiatives are selected based on empirical evidence of their potential impact on business performance, rather than on intuition or trend-following. A major focus of Business Sorting is the evaluation of human capital in the context of digital transformation. Organizations must not only invest in technology but also in their people. This involves not only training employees on new digital tools but also fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability. It reduces the risk of failure by aligning digital transformation initiatives with organizational strategy. This alignment ensures that resources are deployed effectively and that digital investments directly contribute to achieving business objectives.
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