Employee Sensemaking of Digital Transformation in Chinese SOEs
About this Event
Digital transformation (DT) is a topic that has attracted significant attention from both academia and practice. However, existing research often relies on organisational change models and focuses on outcomes and success or failure factors, overlooking DT’s processual, human-centred, and context-specific nature. Addressing these gaps, this study is based on sensemaking theory to study how organisational agents collectively conceptualise DT.
Drawing on a case study of a large Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE), we identify five sensemaking episodes and three reinforcing mechanisms: technology perception divergence, information distortion, and experience asymmetry.
These mechanisms amplify role-based tensions, leading to forced meaning reconstruction and dual-track compliance systems. The study contributes a process understanding of DT sensemaking, revealing boundary conditions for sensemaking theory and offering practical guidance for SOE leaders and regulators to align strategic intent with operational realities.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Yingqian Wang is a third-year PhD researcher at the Global Development Institute, The University of Manchester. Her research sits at the intersection of organisational change, digital transformation, and work psychology. Specifically, her current project focuses on how digital transformation in Chinese state-owned enterprises structurally reshapes work environments and influences employee well-being—a context where employee psychological well-being is often culturally overlooked. Prior to her PhD, she worked as a Senior Consultant on digital finance solutions at a consulting firm. She aims to bridge academic knowledge with organisational practice to foster human-centred digital transformation solutions.
ABOUT THE PGR WORKSHOPS
MCI’s PGR workshops are lunchtime seminars held in person at the Manchester China Institute. They seek to bring together students, faculty and staff who can best provide feedback as postgraduate researchers develop their ideas. Free lunch will be provided.
Accessibility
The MCI is a listed building and therefore does not have any lifts. Please note that you must use the stairs in order to access the venue and the toilets.
Photography
The organisers will be taking photos during this event. If you prefer not to be included in any photos, kindly inform the organisers before the event starts.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00
