Emerging Tensions In Cross-Departmental Collaboration During Digital Transformation In The Media Sector

Digital transformation (DT) not only introduces new technologies but also reconfigures relationships among professional groups. In the media sector, digital transformation disrupts organizational structure, work practices, and decision-making structures. This research in progress presents preliminary findings from the basic stage of an ongoing socio-technical grounded theory study on tensions in cross-departmental collaboration emerging from digital transformation in a media organization that implemented a product-oriented organizational model. The analysis shows three main areas of tensions emerging from 1) cross-departmental differences in work cultures and practices, 2) unclear and ambiguous roles, and 3) imbalanced decision-making and prioritization processes. From this, we discuss linkages to existing literature, and outline areas of further inquiry as the study proceeds to the advanced stages of theory development.