EXPLORING THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS’ PERCEPTIONS ABOUT COMPETENCIES FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION GOVERNANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Introduction: This study was focussed on exploring the Boards of Directors’ perceptions of the competencies required for directors and framework in terms of governance of Digital Transformation at board level, as a command for apposite governance structures. Due to a lack of knowledge of the meaning of "digitalization," how it differs from "digital transformation," and how each plays a part in the digital economy, this notion has become increasingly prevalent in corporate society.

Aim: The researcher sought to answer the main research question, titled: What are the boards’ perceptions about competencies for digital transformation governance in South Africa?

Methodology: Due to the nature of vast content in literature, regarding Digital Transformation, the researcher synthesised evidence using systematic review paradigm. Within the typology of systematic reviews, Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) was selected as a suitable design, using established critical appraisal methods such as PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome) framework to refine the question. Harzing’s Publish or Perish software was used as a database for identification of units of analysis for appraisal. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items in Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) was used to identify, screen and determine inclusion and exclusion of articles for analytic purposes. In addition, CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) method was used to further appraise articles selected.

Findings : From distilling literature and deriving themes using thematic analysis and the COSTA QDA Technique three themes were derived: (1)There is no consensus in South Africa regarding boards’ definition of DT competencies as a command for apposite governance structures, (2) There is paucity of information regarding existence of a specific board competency framework for governance of DT, (3) There is no clear information regarding the initiatives pursued by the boards in developing DT governance roadmap on the competencies.

Keywords: Digital transformation; boards of directors’ competencies; digital competence.