Digital Transformation… Explained at last!

The words “Digital Transformation” have become a catch-cry – every organisation seems to have a program. But the term often disguises more-modest goals – evolutionary projects or IT catch-ups that deliver only modest change.

Mike Bracken tackles the problem of definition in his Medium blogpost on the topic. Mike has nailed the key ingredients: digital transformation has to provide radical change to the business. And it’s a leadership challenge, not an IT issue.

To achieve big results, digital teams need wide-ranging skills; direct access to customers; and the authority to create major change. Leadership is a critical ingredient, to set a compelling vision, deliver the authority, and to protect the team from inevitable mis-steps. Radical business change can’t be done within the IT department, or even in the digital team – it must start in the executive suite.

The rewards are enormous, but the real reason organisations need to get serious about digital transformation: the rapid growth of technology enables fresh business models that will – eventually – marginalise businesses that haven’t adapted. New models spring up quickly (think about Uber’s impact on personal transport). Get on the ‘digital transformation’ bus, or risk being thrown under it…