Heavy workloads and botched digital initiatives are causing 'transformation fatigue' - and enterprises risk losing top talent if they don't change their ways

"Businesses are at risk of losing their top talent in the wake of failed or botched digital transformation projects, according to new research. In a recent survey by Emergn, researchers warned that while 82% of IT leaders say digital transformation is "essential for survival" many workers leading the charge on projects are being burned 50% of respondents reported experiencing "transformation fatigue" due to lengthy overhaul processes and tight deadlines.. Meanwhile, 44% said the frequency of change is too high and adds more pressure."

"All told, 45% said they've suffered from burnout as a result of ongoing internal changes, while 36% said they would consider quitting due to constant upheaval. Alex Adamopoulos, CEO of Emergn, said the survey highlights the intense pressure placed on employees during transformation programs, warning that many are "mistaking activity for progress". "Transformation isn't supposed to break people," he said. "It's supposed to build capacity. But right now, we're seeing the opposite." "This is no longer just a leadership issue - it's a business model problem.""

"Notably, with the advent of generative AI nearly three years ago, the enterprise scramble to adopt new tools is also adding insult to injury for overstretched teams, Emergn found. The company noted that AI projects are "making things worse" in terms of burnout, with more than half (55%) of respondents noting that AI initiatives are accelerating transformation fatigue. "Organizations are pushing hard to adopt new technologies without building the human readiness to sustain them," Adamopoulos said. "This isn't digital transformation - it's digital exhaustion.""

A large share of IT leaders consider digital transformation essential, yet employees driving those efforts face high stress and fatigue. Half of respondents report transformation fatigue from lengthy overhauls and tight deadlines, while 44% say the pace of change increases pressure. Forty-five percent report burnout and 36% would consider quitting due to constant upheaval. Rapid adoption of generative AI is accelerating strain, with 55% saying AI initiatives worsen fatigue. A lack of clarity, concrete planning, and insufficient human readiness contribute to botched projects and put employee retention at risk.

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