Virtual transformation: an operational model and requirments

The term “virtual” as a suffice has been associated with real-world businesses and entities. Until a few years ago, observing the term was equal to spaces such as websites, information networks, digital libraries, etc. But today, most of the citizens' time is spent in spaces that are completely virtual. Stores, businesses, monetary and financial activities, leisure and entertainment, etc. are all being transferred to cyberspace. The rapid pace of joining cyberspace has created a state of disharmony and exhaustion among businesses, especially organizations. Many of them have embarked on digital transformation and implemented some programs, however, this process does not seem to be sufficiently tailored to meet the requirements, and organizations are to see “virtual transformation” as a complementary action and umbrella plan to cover sparse actions on their agenda. In this article, the concept of virtual transformation and its requirements and phases are briefly explained. Attempts have been made to examine the virtual transformation from different dimensions and to identify and introduce its actors well. The six steps presented in this article can be considered guidelines for managers on their virtual transformation journey. The content of the article also can be seen as a starting point for extensive studies on the concept of virtual transformation.