Transformational leadership and psychological barriers in digital transformation implementation in Vietnamese enterprises: Application of Kotter’s 8-step model

Many digital transformation initiatives fail not due to technological limitations but because of employee resistance. This study explores the role of transformational leadership in mitigating psychological barriers when Vietnamese enterprises apply Kotter’s 8-step model in digital transformation. The study aims to identify specific transformational leadership competencies that can effectively intervene at each stage of Kotter’s model. To achieve this objective, the study employs document analysis combined with an examination of management practices and digital transformation realities in Vietnamese enterprises. The findings suggest that companies should prioritize training transformational leadership skills for middle management before investing heavily in technological infrastructure.