Leadership Competencies in the Financial Industry during Digital Transformation: An Evaluation Framework Using the Z-DEMATEL Technique

In today’s digital age, the financial industry, a cornerstone of global economy, is undergoing monumental shifts. While business performance hinges on proficient leadership, seismic wave transformation poses new challenges and magnifies need for specific leadership competencies. The urgency clear: adapt or become obsolete. However, there lack clarity regarding which competencies are essential during such transformations. To address this gap, purpose study to identify that leaders in industry should possess process determine influential relationships among these ones highly influential. This paper extensively investigates criteria evaluating integrates expert judgments construct an evaluation framework transformation. Z-based decision-making trial laboratory (Z-DEMATEL) technique was applied generate influence weights each criterion. addition, based results Z-DEMATEL, Influence Classification Map (ICM) plotted categorized into four groups: core, driving, independent, impact. Management implications improvement suggestions provided accordingly. Z-DEMATEL enhances general form fuzzy DEMATEL. By integrating Z-fuzzy theory, not only accounts uncertainty environment but also measures confidence level experts. Taking Taiwan’s as case study, revealed “vision imagination,” “critical analysis,” “strategic perspective” were top three with higher weights, while analysis” “interpersonal sensitivity” core criteria. Business managers can use design training programs meet requirements ultimately improve organizations Moreover, concepts methods presented be other industries embarking their journeys.