Digital Transformation, Perspective Development, and Value Creation

This edited collection aims to provide relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical research findings in the area of business management. It covers case studies provided by teachers visiting the University of Economics in Katowice, Poland, within Erasmus and CEEPUS Programmes. Over 12 years, approximately 25 teachers have been coming year by year to Katowice, presenting their monographic lectures and participating in seminars on their research results and educational achievements. This book contains descriptions of case studies, elaborated by Erasmus and CEEPUS teachers, illustrating that the case study is a method of research as well as a method applied in education and emphasizing the value of qualitative methods by example of case studies.

The key benefit of qualitative research is that it allows a researcher to perceive and understand context within which decisions and actions take place. Hence, to understand peoples’ motivations, their reasons, their actions, and the context for their beliefs and actions, qualitative research is the best route. Assuming that business organizations as well as individuals are entirely linked together via the Internet, a new approach to business communication and marketing, business modelling and management are developed to reveal an increase of business synergy effects, the alignment of information and communication technologies (ICT) and business and social value creation, as well as sustainability and environment protection. Through this book, readers have an opportunity to learn about relevance and rigor in qualitative research and how the case study can be applied in various organizational contexts.

Małgorzata Pańkowska, PhD, is a professor of social science, and chair of the Department of Informatics at the University of Economics in Katowice, Poland.