How Firms Leave a Mark in the Industry?: A Business Transformation Perspective - Definitions, Concepts and Frameworks

Summary form only given. Much of what is done by firms to achieve business transformation need not be rocket science. Ideas can be simple but their execution makes all the difference, be it the example of Wal Mart's cross-docking technique or Progressive Insurance's competitive price tracking. The authors have observed about 90 firms undertake some form of transformation. About 15 firms are studied and referred in the paper for their stated accomplishments in business transformation to find common patterns and trends. The rest 75 firms were studied by virtue of the entries for the Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Awards (WIBTA). The research team looked at data including competitor pitches, analyst reports, and boutique consulting organizations that focus in the area, client inputs, academic journals and trade press. The authors brought out an analysis of how various firms define business transformation, compared with available definitions within Infosys and presented the business transformation definition and its concepts. The authors further present a framework that highlights the process of transition of firms possessing a 'potential' to transform to being 'truly' transformational. The detailed step by step process underlying the framework is presented. A first cut draft was created and bounced off with a small team of senior practitioners within Infosys. Thus an eclectic approach comprising of 15 detailed case studies, delphi method using purposive and snowball sampling together with an questionnaire was adopted to present the definitions, concepts and underling frameworks of Business Transformation.