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Research purpose. Through the adoption of the concept of the Proof of Concept, the main objective of this work is to highlight the approach that allows the framework and study of the viability of investments in the digital transformation of companies. The research focuses on the publishing sector and, mainly, on one of the largest publishing groups in Portugal and focuses on the strategic decision, due to the covid-19 pandemic situation, to adopt a Warehouse Management System to increase productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability of the company under study. Due to the need for confinement, publishers saw their sales drop drastically and the option of e-commerce implied the need for adjustments in the organizational dynamics associated with the distribution of products. The research/paper goal is to show the viability of investments in the digital transformation of companies in order to enlarge their efficiency and effectiveness. Design / Methodology / Approach. As a methodology adopted in the first phase, the authors developed a framework of current challenges through the focus group technique. In the second phase, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with the different managers of the group’s various companies and their departments. These methodological options aim to obtain more specific information on facts, the degree of relevance, validity, and reliability that is analyzed from the perspective of collecting information. Both methods provide elasticity in the approach and depth of the intended analysis, favoring spontaneous responses and the creation of openness to the approach of more complex and delicate topics. Findings. Information technology investments do not automatically bring competitive advantages. It is essential to carry out careful management of the project and carefully analyze the economic and financial viability of the investment. The disruptive changes do not allow errors in investment. So, adopting a methodology that integrates the strategic analysis of the challenges and technical analysis of the assets and respective viability seems critical for the success of digital transformation projects, namely in the publishing sector. Originality / Value / Practical implications. The digital transformation of companies is a current reality. The pandemic has highlighted digital as a factor of sustainability. However, this finding requires the preparation of management and the adoption of appropriate models and instruments. The present work presents a model that organizations can adapt to in a changing context.

Research purpose. The main objective of this work is to highlight the adoption of project management practices in companies’ digital transformation initiatives as a critical success factor. Thus, on the one hand, we will seek to systematize the importance of project management practices in the digital transformation of economic organizations and, on the other hand, analyze them based on a digital transformation project of one of the largest publishing groups in Portugal. Having previously studied the process of digital transformation of the warehouse through the adoption of a Warehouse Management System, it is now important to analyze to what extent the transformation process was successful and to what extent the management as a project contributed to the achievement of the intended objectives and generated economic value. Design / Methodology / Approach. The first part of the study was carried out through surveys to managers for a general characterization; the second part through the adoption of the focus group technique for analysis and study in greater depth of a case study. In the first phase, the focus group adopts semi-structured interviews with the different managers of the group’s different companies and respective departments. In the second phase, a joint reflection on the organizational and economic value creation was developed based on the different existing perspectives of the digital transformation project. This reflection allowed a more objective analysis of the results obtained, the adequacy of management options, and the deviations. Findings. Technologies analysis investment is a management principle, and the project management approach facilitates this practice. It is essential to carry out a careful project management approach and analyze the economic and financial viability of the investment. The disruptive changes associated with digital transformation make it difficult, and it is not easy to achieve the strategic objectives associated with these investments. So, the adoption of a project management approach seems to be critical for the success of the implementation of digital transformation initiatives. The current study highlights three critical aspects in the global assessment of IST investment: the importance of analyzing the objectives achieved; the importance of economic and financial analysis in determining the return on investment; and the relevance of the analysis being carried out by the stakeholders involved as a way of perceiving, individually and collectively, the diversity of the benefits achieved. Originality / Value / Practical implications. The digital transformation of companies is a current reality and justifies a project approach to guarantee success in economic and organizational initiatives. However, it is important to analyze how management adopts the associated practices and whether it is aware of the importance of evaluating the intended results.

AbstractResearch purpose. To get a validation of the structure, pillars and components that seem to be central, and under which, business management and managers need to develop abilities and competences to ensure the sustainability of their organizations according to the ‘DPOBE Model for Organizational Sustainability’ structure.Design/Methodology/Approach. For the validation of the structure, pillars and components and it’s practical application to measure the organization’s sustainability level with the referred model, despite the focus group exercise made in an early stage, it’s also important to get a solid opinion about it among managers and also in academia, specifically among teachers and investigators on management, business administration and economics as well near master and doctorate students in this field. In this paper, we analyse the results obtained in an exploratory study, based on a survey made among students from four different master’s degree in several specific areas of business management from the School of Business Administration from the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (Portugal).Findings. Main results obtained with this exploratory study let the authors be granted with the developments made so far in the model and its structure, pillars and components. However, only with a major collection of opinions (answer to the survey) from the referred groups, it’s possible to define and adjust the final structure and components of the DPOBE Model.Originality/Value/Practical implications. Being an investigation with several years of development, with several articles, chapters of books, master’s degree thesis, congress presentations and papers made so far, only with a solid and validated structure, pillars and components of the DPOBE Model for Organizational Sustainability, it’s possible to go to its aim, the use of it as a quantitative tool to measure the effective organizations sustainability in a way different from other existing sustainability tools and indexes.