Leadership and digital transformation: insights from bibliometric research

Resumo

This study presents a bibliometric review of scientific literature on leadership and digital transformation, based on publications indexed in Scopus (January 2020–December 2024), following the PRISMA protocol. The results indicate four thematic clusters that structure the literature: digital leadership and organizational outcomes; technology strategy and implementation; management and challenges in the digital era; and the competencies and specific contexts required to lead transformation. Three interrelated conceptual dimensions were identified: strategic and organizational; socio-human and educational; and technological and operational. The analysis reveals that the success of digital transformation depends on a strategic vision that integrates organizational culture, agility, digital literacy, and human skills and goes beyond technology adoption. Emerging themes include digital leadership competencies, sustainability, pandemic-driven digital acceleration, and hybrid models of work and education. The study shows the need to adapt leadership models to new technological, cultural, and organizational realities. As a contribution, this study provides insights into leadership and organizational management, technology management, human resource management, and the educational context.