SPOS #918 – David Rogers On The Digital Transformation Roadmap

Welcome to episode #918 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.

In an era where digital transformation is not just a buzzword but a survival strategy, David Rogers is a world-renowned expert on digital transformation and a distinguished member of the Columbia Business School faculty. He has authored five influential books, including his latest, The Digital Transformation Roadmap, which dives deep into the challenges and strategies crucial for organizations navigating the rapid currents of digital change. David addresses a critical concern: Why do 70% of businesses falter in their digital initiatives? His answer is a clarion call to organizations worldwide — transformation is not just about revamping products... it's about reinventing the organization itself. David presents a five-step roadmap that guides businesses through the continuous tumult of digital innovation, a methodology resonating with his extensive work with global corporations like Google, Microsoft, and Visa. It's not about the technology, he argues, but about strategy, leadership, and a paradigm shift in thinking. This philosophy, first introduced in his landmark bestseller, The Digital Transformation Playbook, has been a guiding light for numerous organizations, and is now more relevant than ever. So if you’re thinking about everything from blockchain, the hype and reality of Web3, the future of artificial intelligence, and new business models necessitated by digital transformation, we’re here for it. David’s insights on the impact of Covid-19 on decentralizing platforms and the need for a customer and business-centric approach, rather than a technology-alone focus, are particularly enlightening. His approach is both pragmatic and visionary. He emphasizes the importance of shared vision, problem selection, and innovative leadership in driving successful digital transformation. His ideas on managing growth, nurturing talent, and fostering a culture conducive to innovation are invaluable for any leader navigating the digital age. Enjoy the conversation...

• Running time: 1:03:42.
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• Here is my conversation with David Rogers.
• The Digital Transformation Roadmap.
• The Digital Transformation Playbook.
• Follow David on Substack.
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• This week's music: David Usher 'St. Lawrence River'.

Takeaways:

• Digital transformation is not just about technology, but about the business and the customer.
• Successful digital transformation requires a shared vision, problem selection, and strong leadership.
• The five steps of digital transformation are defining a shared vision, picking the problems that matter most, validating new ventures, managing growth at scale, and growing technology, talent, and culture.
• Centralized and decentralized platforms are a topic of discussion in the digital era, with implications for social media, databases, and more. 
• Blockchain and AI have limitations and should be applied strategically to solve specific problems.
• The future of AI holds both opportunities and challenges, and it will redefine knowledge and identity.
• Successful digital transformation requires empowering individuals and teams at all levels of the organization to drive change.

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction and Background
• 01:05 - The Digital Transformation Roadmap
• 02:02 - The Challenges of Organizational Transformation
• 13:17 - The Failure Rate of Digital Transformation
• 14:24 - The Five Steps of Digital Transformation
• 18:03 - Rapid Testing and Learning vs. Moving Fast and Breaking Things
• 23:03 - Foundational Customer Behaviors in the Digital Era
• 25:36 - The Evolution of Subscription Models
• 30:11 - The Impact of Cloud Computing on Business Models
• 32:17 - The Challenges of Digital Transformation in Government
• 38:44 - The Need for Cultural Change in Organizations
• 44:04 - Centralized vs. Decentralized Platforms
• 47:16 - Web3 and Solving Problems
• 53:05 - The Future of Artificial Intelligence
• 59:32 - New Business Models in Digital Transformation
• 01:05:06 - Empowering Individuals and Teams in Strategy