Terminological structuring as governance infrastructure: addressing conceptual fragmentation in cross-sector digital transformation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3846/bm.2026.2503Abstract
This article examines terminological fragmentation in cross-sector digital transformation, focusing on conceptual ambiguities between digitalization, digital transformation, digital innovation, digital governance, electronic identity, and digital public services. Drawing on a structured expert-based terminological assessment conducted within the higher education and research sector, the study analyses how frequently used digital concepts diverge in scope, governance level, and institutional function. The study combines document analysis, keyword frequency mapping, semantic co-occurrence analysis, comparative evaluation, and expert validation. The findings reveal substantial conceptual overlap and governance-level conflation among dominant digital transformation constructs. Frequently invoked terms operate as umbrella expressions without sufficient definitional precision, generating interpretative divergence across institutional actors. This fragmentation increases coordination costs, weakens strategic alignment, and constrains adaptive capacity in collaborative innovation environments. In response, the authors develop and validate a harmonized terminological framework that distinguishes operational digitalization from systemic transformation and separates service-level digital initiatives from governance-level reconfiguration. By positioning clear and well-defined concepts as a component of governance capacity, the article contributes to digital governance and management scholarship and provides a structured foundation for strengthening institutional coherence and strategic implementation in digitally transforming organizations.
Keywords:
digital transformation, organisational resilience, conceptual clarity, institutional logics, cross-sector governanceHow to Cite
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