Simona Maccarrone
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION CONSULTANT

Why many digital transformations fail
Most digital transformation initiatives don’t fail because of technology.
They fail because:
-
Decisions are made before understanding how people actually work
-
Processes are designed for documentation, not reality
-
Adoption and behaviour change are treated as an afterthought
In regulated environments like pharma and life sciences, these gaps don’t just reduce value — they increase operational and compliance risk.
A human-centered approach to digital transformation
Digital transformation only creates value when it fits real workflows, organisational constraints, and human behaviour.
​
My work starts before tools are selected — helping leadership teams make the right strategic decisions in the right order, with people, processes, and regulation in mind.
Strategic & Regulatory Alignment
We clarify business goals, non-negotiable regulatory constraints, and leadership ownership before any technology decisions are made.
​
Why it matters:
Without this clarity, digital initiatives drift and costs escalate.
Digital Design
& Roadmapping
Technology decisions are shaped by value, risk, and adoption — not vendor pressure.
The result is a realistic, phased roadmap.
Why it matters:
Sequencing decisions correctly avoids over-engineering and rework.
People & Process Reality Check
We look beyond SOPs to understand how work actually happens — including informal practices, exceptions, and pressure points.
Why it matters:
This is where adoption challenges and compliance risk live.
Change & Adoption by Design
Ways of working, governance, and decision-making are embedded into the transformation from the start.
Why it matters:
Change that isn’t designed will be resisted — especially in regulated environments.

Executive Brief
The approach outlined above is grounded in a recurring pattern I’ve observed across digital transformation initiatives in regulated environments: challenges rarely emerge during implementation, but much earlier — when strategic priorities, real workflows, and adoption implications are not yet fully understood.
This 4-page executive brief outlines a human-centered, strategy-first framework for digital transformation, designed to support CEOs, CIOs, and Transformation Leaders navigating complexity in pharma and life sciences.
In this executive brief, you’ll find:
-
Why technology-first approaches repeatedly fail in regulated environments
-
A practical framework for aligning strategy, people, processes, and technology
-
How to reduce adoption and compliance risk before committing to major investments
It is intended as a tool for reflection and clarity, supporting informed decision-making rather than promoting predefined solutions.

