Lars Arvei Moen's dissertation consists of three articles that explore how strategy and digital transformation work together to enhance companies' competitiveness in a digital landscape.

The research is based on the following question:

Why are some companies able to achieve digital transformation faster than others?

The first article studies differences in companies' strategic commitment to digital transformation. This is important since leaders' focus is limited. Through the analysis of annual reports from Norwegian publicly listed companies, Moen and his co-authors found that different short-term strategic orientations can be complementary, which can enhance digital strategies. In the long term, however, the focus can become fragmented. This may explain why companies with sustained digital orientations change faster.

In the second article, the authors examine how the speed of digitalization has varied between companies during the Covid-19 pandemic. The authors used the fact that the lockdown was an incentive for everyone to digitalize equally, but they find that companies that were already digital before the pandemic increased their lead over competitors.

The third article looks at a paradox in the research literature; growth strategies for digital companies. Moen compares a "focus strategy," which prioritizes scaling, with "diversification," which involves platform expansion. He suggests that the optimal strategy depends on a company's digital maturity compared to the competition in the market. Overall, the dissertation provides insights into what makes some companies more proactive in their digital transformation and how they can choose the most appropriate growth strategy.

Supervisors: Associate Professor Tina Saebi (main supervisor), Department of Strategy and Management, NHH

Professor Lasse Lien, Department of Strategy and Management, NHH

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