The Surprising Disciplines of How to Take Off and Stay Ahead

In Why Digital Transformations Fail, Tony Saldanha, former Procter & Gamble IT executive and global transformation strategist, pulls back the curtain on a hard truth: despite all the buzz, 70% of digital transformations flop. Not because of bad tech. Not because of lackluster innovation. But because businesses dive in without a roadmap, or worse, without knowing what digital transformation really means.

Saldanha’s antidote to this epidemic of failure is a rock-solid, five-stage framework that turns vague transformation efforts into disciplined execution. This isn’t theory; it’s a practical playbook grounded in Saldanha’s decades of global experience and tested inside one of the world’s most operationally rigorous companies.

Here’s the gist of the five stages:

  • Foundation: Digital initiatives are scattered? Great. Now it’s time to standardize them.
  • Siloed Automation: You’ve got pockets of automation. The next step is to connect them.
  • Enterprise-Wide Integration: Break down silos and make digital seamless across the organization.
  • New Business Models: Rethink the very core of your value proposition.
  • Living DNA: Transformation is no longer a project. It becomes embedded in how you operate.

Each stage comes with its own set of disciplines and a checklist, helping you determine whether you’re making real progress or simply applying new tech to old problems. And Saldanha doesn’t leave you guessing. Backed by real-world examples from across industries – including a Netflix versus Blockbuster moment – he shows what works, what doesn’t, and how to tell the difference before it’s too late.

The big takeaway? True digital transformation isn’t about apps or AI. It’s about making your organization fundamentally more adaptable, scalable, and future-ready. Why Digital Transformations Fail offers more than just survival strategies. It’s a guide to turning disruption into your competitive edge.

This book is perfect for leaders who are tired of transformation theater and want lasting change without becoming tomorrow’s cautionary tale.