Challenges of Transformational Leadership in the Digital Age: The Role of Moral Trust in Maintaining Transformational Approaches

Abstract

In the Digital Age the world is experiencing an immense growth of advanced digital technologies such as robotics, big data analytics, virtual reality, or artificial intelligence. Hundreds if not thousands of new applications and social media tools are introduced every day changing how people gain and process information, how they communicate or learn but more importantly how people think and solve problems. These all present a huge challenge for all leaders especially senior ones. Thus, this dissertation reveals senior leaders’ perspective to find out how digitalization of teamwork and decision-making changes trust relations at interpersonal level. Moreover, it sheds light on the role of moral trust on eliminating possible gaps in interpersonal trust. The research employs descriptive analysis of theoretical background and compares it to empirical data collected from practitioners; senior and junior leaders in multinational military environment at NATO´s standing and deployed HQs. Based on the findings, this dissertation offers a coaching tool which can be employed in designing leadership training or individual leadership coaching concepts.