TOP MANAGEMENT AS AN ENABLER OF FIRMS’ SUSTAINABLE AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: A LITERATURE REVIEW AND RESEARCH AGENDA FOR TWIN TRANSFORMATION

Annina Ahrens and Tim Heubeck
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Annina Ahrens: University of Bayreuth, Faculty of Law, Business and Economics, Chair of International Management, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
Tim Heubeck: University of Bayreuth, Faculty of Law, Business and Economics, Chair of International Management, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany

International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), 2025, vol. 29, issue 05n06, 1-36

Abstract: In response to today’s complex challenges, firms are increasingly compelled to pursue sustainable and digital transformations in tandem. While the role of top management in these areas is recognised in isolation, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis on how they facilitate the intertwined process of twin transformation, where sustainable and digital initiatives are mutually dependent. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic literature review to synthesise current knowledge on top managers’ enabling role in twin transformation and propose a future research agenda through this analysis. Through our analysis of 48 articles, we identified three key enablers — human capital, leadership, and governance — that drive twin transformation across different levels of top management, including executive, board, and ownership tiers. This review highlights the crucial influence of top management in successfully navigating twin transformation and reveals significant research gaps, offering a solid foundation for future studies in this emerging field.

Keywords: Sustainability; digitalisation; top management; twin transformation; literature review; human capital; leadership; governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1142/S1363919625400067

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