Abstract:
The objective of the study was to explore the relationship between companies that are
digitally mature and the leadership style of their C-level executives, with a specific focus on
transformational leadership. Success in the digital era requires not only an investment in
digital capabilities, but also a change in organisational culture that only strong leadership can
inspire. Transformational leadership instils major changes at the organisational level,
through changing attitudes and assumptions at the individual level and creating collective
engagement. Moreover, this leadership approach facilitates organisational innovation and
learning, and generates a shared, inspiring vision for the future
The purpose this study was two-fold: Firstly, to explore the relationship between
transformational leadership and having higher digital maturity levels - becoming a digital
master. Secondly, to determine whether one or more of the transformational leadership
factors has an effect on the digital maturity of South African companies (represented by four
basic transformational leadership behaviours, or "I's".
An online survey, specifically addressing the research question, was sent to C-level
executives from South African companies that fit the population criteria, using moderator
regression models to determine if transformational leadership and its associated behaviours
have an effect on a company's digital maturity. For the sample population, it was determined
that two of the transformational leadership behaviours had a positive effect on digital
maturity, namely idealised influence and individualised consideration and that one
transformational leadership behaviour, inspirational motivation, has a negative effect on
digital maturity.