Assessing Employees Readiness for Digital Transformation a Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The widespread integration of digital technologies into workplaces has highlighted the importance of understanding how employees, rather than just systems, are prepared for transformative digital processes. While the concepts of digital readiness and digital transformation (DT) have been widely studied at the organizational level, assessing how individual employees are ready to succeed in DT initiatives remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by proposing a practical conceptualization and framework of Employee Digital Transformation Readiness (EDTR). To achieve this, a systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA protocol, covering peer-reviewed studies from 2010 to 2024. Articles were sourced from Web of Science database, as well as in the most important publishers’ databases, resulting in the identification of 22 articles on “e-readiness”, 504 articles on “digital transformation”, and 178 articles on “digital transformation readiness”. The review revealed six key dimensions that shape EDTR namely digital literacy and skills, psychological readiness, behavioral intention, managerial and organizational support, resistance to change, and employee innovativeness. These findings reflect the multidimensional nature of employee readiness and the interplay between personal capabilities and contextual enablers. Based on these insights, the review proposes a comprehensive framework to assess and enhance employee readiness for digital transformation. Additionally, the study offers recommendations for theory development and organizational practices aimed at fostering digital resilience and employee-driven transformation. Although limited by its scope and selection criteria, this review lays the foundation for further empirical validation and broader exploration of how employees contribute to successful DT outcomes in practice.