Notes on digital transformation—dealing with ignorance

There are so many decision makers that think that digital transformation is just better IT. Why is that?

Many books and case studies on digital transformation clearly mention that it is not about just doing existing jobs better, faster and smarter, but it is about doing different jobs altogether. It is a time to reimagine and reinvent and not a time to rinse and repeat. So, aren't these people reading these books then? Or, even if they are, is their current frame so strong that they contort reality?

Whatever the reason, these people delay progress. What is the cost of this delay?

1. Firstly, it is about taking them time to help them see the light. This is OK and must be done. It is the humane thing to do.
2. Secondly, and more importantly, it is about having to deal with the truckload of crap they will create before they 'get it'. Nothing humane about this; just raw frustration.

So, if you are a CEO or group lead and have people or consultancies helping you with digital transformation, please take the time to find what digital transformation means to you before it is too late. If you find that your team is treating it like 'old wine, new bottle', then the single best decision you can make is to pick up the freeze gun and stop them from doing further damage. Get them into a room for a couple of hours and address their crippling assumptions. You will be doing human progress a favor.