Effects of Digitalization on Managerial Practices as Experienced by Managers

Abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to explore how managers' practices are transforming in the digital era. This is done by looking at how digitalization is changing managerial practices as experienced by managers. The data was collected by conducting five semi-structured online interviews and three structured email interviews with managers working at Ericsson's headquarter office in Stockholm. The collected data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach which resulted in five themes: work and communication in the digital environment, training and learning, information and data, other effects of digitalization, and additional findings. This study concludes that notable changes in managerial practices can be observed in all four categories of practices: task-oriented, relations-oriented, change-oriented, and external practices. This shows that digitalization is a process that transforms managerial practices and it does it both by aiding managers in their tasks and by making some tasks more difficult. Thus, managers need to be more aware and able to adapt to these changes that digitalization brings to their practices.