The Role of Professional Identity in Digital Transformation : The Case of Heavy Equipment Operators in the Swedish Earth-Moving Industry

Abstract: Digital transformation has become a hot topic both amongst practitioners and researchers. However, a vast majority of industries are struggling with collecting the benefits from digital transformation, and the Swedish earth-moving industry is no exception. Identity is seldomly further explored, although it is often mentioned as a factor to consider in digital transformation. Furthermore, the role of the employees is central, yet often underestimated. Thus, this study revolves around heavy equipment operators and their professional identity in digital transformation. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate how the professional identity of the heavy equipment operators affects digital transformation of the earth-moving industry. To fulfill the purpose, this study aims to use a combination of previous theories regarding professional identity. This to explain current and anticipate future supportive and resistive behaviors towards digital transformation. The findings are based on an exploratory case study of heavy equipment operators and an extensive literature review of prior research of professional identity. The findings showcase that heavy equipment operators' professional identity is mainly rooted in their prior socialization and similar values of impacting their surroundings. Furthermore, this study found that concerns of not having the skills required by the changes as a resistive behavior are likely to become more prominent in the future. This is because although digital technologies lower the maneuvering skills, they require other skills. Also, digital technologies are often appreciated although they are often adopted in a reactive way which slows down digital transformation of the earth-moving industry. Furthermore, this study shows that there are multiple aspects of professional identity to consider and provides a comprehensive understanding of the interdependencies amongst the elements in professional identity.