Organizational performance of the higher education sector in the era of industrialization is becoming a hot issue. Being a direct talent supplier of the business world, higher education institutions are striving to keep pace by implying several unique models. This study proposes that digital transformation initiatives are the center of debate in modern research concerning organizational performance. By adopting digital transformation, organizational learning increases leading to higher user adaptation ultimately leading to organizational performance. This study collected data from 245 employees from higher education institutions in China who are directly engaged in the digital transformation process. The data were assessed using SmartPLS (4.0) and partial least square structured equation modeling. The findings revealed that digital transformation initiatives directly positively affect organizational performance. Also, organizational learning and user adaptation act as serial mediators concerning organizational performance. This study also found that unobserved slack (unused resources in items of talent potential) assisted the process of digital transformation initiatives and organizational learning. While on the following mechanism, observed slack (measurable and visible difference between the potential output) positively affects the relationships between organizational earning, user adaptation, and organizational performance. This study provides a comprehensive model for enhancing organizational performance by optimizing organizational learning, user adaptation, and slack resources. This study offers theoretical contributions and practical implications for both higher education institutions and policymakers to enhance organizational performance using digital transformation initiatives.

Authors: Shuja Iqbal, Hongyun Tian, Shamim Akhtar, Hasnain Javed, Aasim Naimat Gill

Published in: Canada International Conference on Education, 2024

• Date of Conference: 23-25 July, 2024
• DOI: 10.20533/CICE.2024.0022
• Electronic ISBN: 978-1-913572-65-5
• Conference Location: Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada