The Inevitable Shift - Preparing for disruption in the face of the unknowable

  Change is an aspect ingrained into the very nature of technology at its core. It is through this change and innovation that we develop, progress and normalize this technology, not only as the innovators ourselves of these technologies, but as a society. Whether it is the development of the scientific aspects of the technology or the business components of its application, how we interact with these new technology is constantly in flux, and we must constantly be prepared in order to harness these capabilities. But how can we be prepared for these changes that are defined by their mystery and surprise? We can understand the inevitable nature of technological change in very general terms, but it is rare that anyone is truly prepared for specific components of these disruption. But though we can rarely predict the large scale nature of change, it is ultimately how we react once these changes occur that define how we can harness this disruption.

As Manyika et al say in their May 2013 article for McKinsey and Company, “Disruptive technologies…”: “If business and government leaders wait until these technologies are exerting their full influence on the economy, it will be too late to capture the benefits or react to the consequences.” Therefore, it is important to have measures in place that will allow for some adaptation time once these technological shifts occur. It is important to be prepared, not for the specific nature of changes, but for strategic adaption in the case of these changes. Not only will a proper utilization of these disruptive technological shifts benefit those in the industry competing within this technological realm, it will more importantly effect customers, constituents and other stakeholders that feel the effects of these shifts from a market perspective. But ultimately, the greatest disruptions in the technological realm are those that effect the whole of society and, in turn, create a social innovation that we all feel. And without proper preparation from industry leaders.

As previously stated, the only way we can really be prepared for these shifts is in general terms, but some more specific ways we can react and interact to these great shifts vary by sector and industry. For example, business leaders must be prepared with business-plan level innovation in order to properly adapt to shifts. These shifts can eventually affect even long-established methods of management and conducting business, and sticking to “the old ways” are the best way for those in the industry to be left behind. For policymakers and non-profits, a great way to harness these shifts is to make them into training and educational opportunities. Harnessing shifts for learning will not only prepare current leaders in these sectors, but prepare future leaders as well. And finally, as Dobbs, Manyinka and Woetzel discuss in their Global Forces article, understanding place and age of the shifts in the markets are of the utmost importance to these shifts.