Beware the Butterfly Syndrome: A Reality Check on Agile Transformation

Just over a decade ago, I wrote a post Agile Transformation: Not a Caterpillar Turning Into a Butterfly based on the observations of “Agile transformations” being less like caterpillars—destined to transform into beautiful butterflies. I sought to dispel the myth of the effortless metamorphosis and embrace the art—and science—of transformation. In my last post, I … Read more

Technology Just Changed Categories. Most Leaders Haven’t Noticed.

Until recently, technology’s history fit a single phrase: humanity’s quest to manipulate atoms. Fire to stone tools to metal. Agriculture to the Industrial Revolution. Horse-drawn power to steam, combustion, electricity. Then something shifted. The Abstraction Jump By mid-twentieth century, technology moved to a higher level. Data and information became recognised as core properties of the … Read more

Drowning in “Strategic” Priorities? You’re Not Alone (and It’s Costing You Dearly – Including Your Agility!)

We all nod sagely when the topic of prioritisation comes up. “Focus on what matters most,” we preach. “Identify the vital few that will truly move the needle.” It sounds so simple, so logical. Yet, in the messy reality of organisational life, this fundamental principle often goes out the window, leaving us drowning in a … Read more

The Ecosystem Economy: How Business Agility Will Shape—and Be Shaped by—Our $100 Trillion Future

I found an insightful and eye-opening book on the O’Reilly learning platform, “The Ecosystem Economy: How to Lead in the New Age of Sectors Without Borders”. The book takes readers on a transformative journey into a world where traditional industry boundaries dissolve, making way for dynamic networks of partnerships and collaborations. As ecosystems reshape the … Read more

Break Free from Change Anti-Patterns to Unleash Organizational Agility

In an ever-evolving business landscape, organizations frequently embark on transformation initiatives aimed at improving agility. Yet, many of these efforts falter, ensnared by a repetitive cycle of anti-patterns. Those ineffective practices that are counterproductive to the desired change. Breaking free from these entrenched behaviors is essential for organizations looking to realize the full potential of … Read more

Case Study: Visionary Application of Design Thinking as a Strategic Transformation Framework

Introduction In the early 2010s, the adoption of Design Thinking was primarily confined to product and service innovation and even then it was seen as cutting-edge. (I’d experienced design thinking firsthand as a product development lead for Reuters in their Usability Group between 1993 and 1997). Its potential as a framework for organizational transformation remained … Read more