HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Leading Digital Transformation by Harvard Business Review published in January 2021.
This outlines a much needed read on the hot topic of digital transformation. The issue to certainly understand is how this differs from digital disruption. There are several articles that really stand out and make this a valuable read for all organizations regardless of their AI maturity level.
A key must read is Leandro DalleMule and Thomas H. Davenport’s “What’s Your Data Strategy?” This was a bestselling article from HBR. and their article is another can’t miss addressing data. Simply put, in order to remain competitive in a post pandemic world, organizations must manage the quantities of data very carefully.
Perhaps their suggestion of ShadowIT leaving flawed n and duplicate data within an organizations will hamper any true embrace of AI.
In addition they address how organizations must strive to develop a balanced strategy between offensive and defense data management. this is a really great read. Again, looking at a post pandemic world, regardless of marketplace, organizational data must be viewed as a key strategy as we embrace data lakes.
Transform to Compete
Perhaps the most important article is “Competing in the Age of AI by Marco Iansiti and Karim R. Lakhani which launched their book by the same name. I would place their book as one of the most important for organizations to digest and understand how to successfully compete in the AI age.
In addition, their Digital Transformation focus on “How AI-driven companies can outstrip traditional firms” will be quite simply a mandatory read for any organizational leadership. As the pace of AI is accelerating, by missing their work, your organization will not only be not in the game, you will also not even be on the sidelines, but rather up in the stands wondering how you missed this game changer. Nevertheless, organizational strategy cannot ignore their writing: Competing in the Age of AI
Get running on solid ground
Finally, please read Building the AI-Powered Organization by Tim Fountaine, Brian McCarthy, and Tamim Saleh. Tamin also wrote Getting AI to Scale. Organizations that attempt to scale up their AI projects often fail. Only 8% of organizations understand how to engage the core practices that support a widespread adoption of AI across their various teams.
I really appreciated how they identify AI and employees are simply not enough. Too many organizations still jam the square peg into a round hole. To avoid this, organizational leaders must fully understand and communicate an urgency of AI initiatives with the benefits for their employees. The only way to succeed is for an organization to understand its AI maturity, pace of innovation and most importantly rolling out AI training for all employees.
In conclusion, HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Digital Transformation is certainly mandatory for any organizational leader. They will certainly learn insights that move their organization into digital transformation and avoiding digital disruption.