Arizona State University’s Digital Transformation Journey Through COVID-19
In 2002, Dr. Michael Crow was appointed as the 16th president of Arizona State University (ASU) which, at the time, was known to be one of the biggest party schools in the United States. Under his leadership, ASU transformed into the New America University, designed to enhance access to education and deliver social impact. In 2016, ASU was recognized by US News and World Report as being the most innovative university in the U.S. Despite recognition as an innovative academic institution, ASU's own University Technology Office (UTO) considered itself the place where good ideas went to die. Terms such as digital transformation were buzzwords, and the culture hearkened back to the technological ideals of the 1970s. The case presents the benefits of digital transformation to enhance the higher education experience. These same benefits apply to any organizational cultures seeking large-scale digital transformation. The case offers a front-row view on how digital transformation unfolds in a large organization with users who demand unique functionalities. It offers a realistic discussion of the integrated role that leadership, strategic thinking, and technology play in a successful transformation.
The specific teaching objectives of the case are:
1. To illustrate the importance of digital transformation in today’s higher education sector.
2. To understand the significance of culture within an organization that has been asked to embrace a digital transformation.
3. To highlight the influence of executive leadership and support for digital transformation within a higher education sector.
