Digitalization Is About Managing Change: Thoughts and Learning from the Life Science Industry

This chapter delves into digitalization in the life science industries, framing it not only as a technological transformation but also as a significant organizational change initiative. Digitalization’s success lies in managing expectations, driving change, and engaging users in adopting new solutions and work methods. It challenges the perception of digitalization as a one-time event, highlighting the need for continuous improvement to meet evolving requirements and support flexible operations like agile manufacturing. It further emphasizes the importance of understanding the limited capacity for users to absorb change while maximizing the development of digital solutions, necessitating strategic roadmapping and release management. Lastly, the chapter underscores the role of multiple digital solutions in users’ workflows and the improbability of a single platform fulfilling all tasks. A user- and process-centric mapping approach, similar to customer journey mapping, can help identify pain points and opportunities to improve workflow transitions and enhance the overall employee experience. The chapter is enriched with various case studies, providing practical insights for managing digital transformation in life science organizations effectively.