Study of digital transformation in public nonprofit organizations for the validation of an extensive framework

Felisoni, Paulo Ribeiro; Gaspar, Marcos Antonio; Stefani, Eduardo; Costa, Ivanir

doi:10.1590/1678-6971/eRAMR2640159

Knowledge, Strategy, and Innovation • RAM, Rev. Adm. Mackenzie 27 (4) • 2026 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-6971/eRAMR2640159 linkcopy

Study of digital transformation in public nonprofit organizations for the validation of an extensive framework

Estudo da transformação digital em organizações públicas sem fins lucrativos para a validação de framework extensivo

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Purpose: To adapt the proposed approach by Vial (2019), which is geared toward the digital transformation of private companies, to develop a digital transformation framework specific to public nonprofit organizations.

Originality/value: The framework developed by adapting four wellestablished academic frameworks (Vial, 2019; Gong et al., 2020; Mergel et al., 2019; Van Veldhoven & Vanthienen, 2022) is innovative because it addresses the specificities of the DT (digital transformation) process in public nonprofit organizations.

Design/methodology/approach: An exploratory descriptive study using both qualitative and quantitative methods was conducted on the current criteria for digital transformation. Following a bibliographic review, four models were used in the development of the new framework, which was evaluated through questionnaires administered to experts in two phases: 1. A committee of nine academic experts, and 2. Field research involving 65 professionals engaged in DT at 30 public companies operating at the federal, state, and municipal levels.

Results: The framework is structured into eight dimensions and 40 criteria and their relationships: ‘use of digital technologies’ (6 criteria), ‘disruptions/motivations/pressures’ (7), ‘strategic responses’ (3), ‘changes in public value creation’ (6), ‘structural changes’ (8), ‘organizational barriers’ (4), ‘negative impacts’ (2), and ‘positive impacts’ (4).

Contribution: The developed framework enhances understanding of digital transformation in public nonprofit organizations and establishes the structure and key elements to consider in these organizations to support the delivery of improved public services.

Keywords:
digital transformation; digital transformation framework; public nonprofit organization; public organization; digital transformation in public organizations.

Dimensions of the framework	SD		PD		NAND		PA		SA
Dimensions of the framework	Qt.	%	Qt.	%	Qt.	%	Qt.	%	Qt.	%
A: Use of digital technologies
SMACIT	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	3	33.3	6	66.7
BRAICQ	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	3	33.3	6	66.7
Platforms and ecosystems	0	0.0	1	11.1	1	11.1	0	0.0	7	77.8
B: Disruptions/Motivations/Pressures
User behavior and expectations	0	0.0	1	11.1	0	0.0	3	33.3	5	55.6
Business environment	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	3	33.3	6	66.7
Data availability	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	11.1	2	22.2	6	66.7
Legislation and public policies	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	2	22.2	7	77.8
C: Strategic responses
Digital Public Business Strategies	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	3	33.3	6	66.7
Public Digital Transformation Strategy	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	11.1	1	11.1	7	77.8
D: Changes in public value creation
Public Value Proposition	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	11.1	1	11.1	7	77.8
Public Business Framework	0	0.0	0	0.0	2	22.2	1	11.1	6	66.7
Public value networks	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	11.1	2	22.2	6	66.7
Digital channels	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	11.1	8	88.9
Agility and ambidexterity	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	11.1	1	11.1	7	77.8
E: Structural changes
Organizational structure	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	3	33.3	6	66.7
Culture, mindset, and relationships	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	11.1	1	11.1	7	77.8
Leadership commitment	0	0.0	1	11.1	1	11.1	1	11.1	6	66.7
Employee roles and skills	0	0.0	1	11.1	0	0.0	1	11.1	7	77.8
Employee resilience	0	0.0	1	11.1	1	11.1	1	11.1	6	66.7
F: Organizational barriers
Organizational inertia	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	11.1	1	11.1	7	77.8
Organizational resistance	0	0.0	1	11.1	1	11.1	1	11.1	6	66.7
G: Negative impacts
Security and Privacy	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	11.1	1	11.1	7	77.8
H: Positive impacts
Operational efficiency	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	2	22.2	7	77.8
Organizational performance	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	2	22.2	7	77.8
Process improvements, public services and society	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	3	33.3	6	66.7

Framework Dimension	Q.	Phase 2 responses (questions 1 through 4) in %
Framework Dimension	Q.	SD	PD	NAND	PA	SA	PA + SA
A: Use of digital technologies	1	3.0	12.3	15.4	58.5	10.8	69.3
	2	0.0	4.7	9.2	61.5	24.6	86.1
	3	1.6	9.2	15.4	56.9	16.9	73.8
	4	0.0	12.3	15.4	58.5	13.8	72.3
B: Disruptions/Motivations/Pressures	1	0.0	9.2	7.7	56.9	26.2	83.1
	2	0.0	7.7	7.7	60.0	24.6	84.6
	3	0.0	4.6	16.9	60.0	18.5	78.5
	4	0.0	10.8	21.5	49.2	18.5	67.7
C: Strategic responses	1	1.6	16.9	12.3	53.8	15.4	69.2
	2	0.0	3.1	13.8	66.2	16.9	83.1
	3	0.0	6.2	13.8	66.2	13.8	80.0
	4	0.0	7.7	20.0	61.5	10.8	72.3
D: Changes in public value creation	1	3.1	15.4	18.5	49.2	13.8	63.0
	2	0.0	6.2	10.7	66.2	16.9	83.1
	3	0.2	5.9	18.5	58.5	16.9	75.4
	4	1.6	7.8	15.6	60.9	14.1	75.0
E: Structural changes	1	0.0	23.1	15.4	36.9	24.6	61.5
	2	0.0	4.6	9.2	60.0	26.2	86.2
	3	0.0	3.0	20.0	50.8	26.2	77.0
	4	0.0	6.1	24.6	50.8	18.5	69.3
F: Organizational barriers	1	0.0	1.6	7.7	61.5	29.2	90.7
	2	1.4	7.8	12.3	63.1	15.4	78.5
	3	3.0	13.8	26.2	46.2	10.8	57.0
	4	3.1	15.4	21.5	49.2	10.8	60.0
G: Negative impacts	1	0.0	15.4	15.4	53.8	15.4	69.2
	2	0.0	12.2	10.8	58.5	18.5	77.0
	3	0.0	10.8	24.6	53.8	10.8	64.6
	4	0.0	16.9	24.6	47.7	10.8	58.5
H: Positive impacts	1	0.0	16.9	6.2	44.6	32.3	76.9
	2	0.0	0.6	4.1	61.5	33.8	95.3
	3	0.0	2.5	8.2	63.1	26.2	89.3
	4	0.1	6.0	15.4	58.5	20.0	78.5

Dimension	Suggestion accepted
A	Change the acronym ‘BRAICQ’ to ‘BAAICQ’ and change ‘robotics’ to ‘automation/chatbot’
A	Include ‘Information Security’ as a criterion
B	Include ‘Citizen Experience (CiX)’ as a criterion at the beginning of this dimension
	Include ‘Discontinuity of strategic governance’ as the last criterion
	Include the criterion ‘Budgetary and Resource Constraints’ in this dimension
C	Include ‘Objectives, goals, and indicators’ as the last criterion
D	Change ‘Public Business Framework’ to ‘Transparency in the Public Business Model’
E	Change ‘Structural changes’ to ‘Organizational changes’
E	Include ‘Cognitive ergonomics’ as the second criterion for this dimension
F	Include the criterion ‘Organizational bureaucracy’
F	Include the criterion ‘Corporatism’
H	Change ‘Process improvements’ to ‘Digitalization and process improvements’ and ‘social impact’
H	Split the criterion ‘Digitization, process improvements, and social impact’ into the criteria ‘Digitization and improvements in processes’ and ‘Social impact’.

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