On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Why Every Employee Must Understand Digital Transformation

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Why Every Employee Must Understand Digital Transformation When youve been involved inbusiness operationsfor more than four decades, youve learned a thing or two about strategies and how to put them in place. A veteran shares his wisdom andbest practices for digital transformationthat makes sense even for those outside IT. Eric Clemons, a professor of operations, information and decisions for The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, often begins any advice he offers on digital transformation by couching it in terms of history. So, if hes asked about his opinions on digital transformation, he will talk about how hes been in computing since the 1960s, and all the developments in technology hes seen since then. Or, he may reach even further back and question how a caveman would react 12,000 years ago if someone told the early human about agriculture. Um, surprised? Confused? Exactly! he says. Thats how those outside IT may think when they hear about digital transformation, he says. They may not understand it and perhaps are even a little afraid of what it means. Further, just like a caveman hearing about agriculture for the first time, they may not really understand the huge impact it will have on their lives, he adds. Clemons emphasizes that the digital transformation taking place today isnt just happening in a couple of departments of a business, but is completely overhauling the structure and strategy of an entire business. While that may be an overwhelming thought for some organizations, Clemons says it doesnt have to be as long as its broken down to a series of manageable steps and leaders realize that it isnt so much about technology as it is information. Digital transformation is really a different way of thinking, he says. Its just enabled by technology. A recent Strategysanalysisfinds that 16 bellwether sectors, such as aviation and utilities, must not just embrace new and unexpected forms for digitization and technological innovation, but must also use them to reform their current business models. Change is coming quickly, but many business leaders and their organizations are unprepared for them, the analysis finds. One of the ways that companies can begin to adopt transformation and help their employees embrace it is by having each one understand what it means to have the right customer, Clemons says. For example, in the late 1980s, Citibank wanted to become (read more here) -