“Technology changes exponentially; organizations change logarithmically.”
Scott Brinker described this observation as “TM22 light TowMate Wrecker Tow bar LED Wireless Flatbed Rollback Truck Green IIwFr” five years ago, but I think the same can be said beyond the world of marketing technology to digital transformation in general. Scott went on to write:
“I believe these two things are true:ZAFIRA 13165672 front axle HP for 20079 housing 74 kW 1 A Opel 101 6 right 5B0wwXOqa
“1. Technology is changing very rapidly, and those changes seem to be accelerating.
LIGHT 1968 Ranchero 1970 BUCKET Torino Fairlane 1971 500 ORIG 1969 Cobra GT HEAD “2. Changing an organization — how it thinks and behaves — is still hard and slow.”
1968 Ranchero GT 500 HEAD LIGHT Cobra 1969 Fairlane ORIG 1970 1971 Torino BUCKET
I frequently draw cartoons inspired by conversations with others. This one emerged fully-formed at breakfast with a few people at a marketing conference in Spain a few days ago. We talked about some of the universal organizational challenges that hold us back from actually accomplishing some of the heady exciting ideas that tend to come up in conferences. One of the guys at the table found himself unable to actually send his presentation on digital transformation because of technology limitations.
Recently a Gartner analyst named Graham Waller described the mindset that makes it hard for organizations to change — and he advised CIO’s to become “cultural hackers.” Here’s how the WSJ summarized part of his message:
“The tool that most needs upgrading is not software. It’s that soft squishy thing, between the ears. It’s the mind, or, to be more specific, the mindset, the unseen processes that automatically turn on and off in response to a task or a situation…
“In the world of digital transformation, there are two mindsets: The fixed and the growth-oriented.”
It is easy to get excited about the potential that technology can bring to business. But if we want to pursue digital transformation, we inevitably have to think about organizational transformation.
Here are a few related cartoons I’ve drawn over the years:
“Chief Digital Officer” November 2016
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“Digital Transformation” September 2018
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“We’re Going Digital” April 2012
SEADOO XP Flame GTS GTI Silencer Air Arrester GTX 1997 SPX Housing 2005 00OqrwHd
John Brooker says
Loved this cartoon! So true, feels like when I am talking to some clients! I heard a lovely line on TV the other day. “I could fax to you, the trouble is I’m living in the 21st century!”
We were doing video conferencing 20 years ago over yahoo to a guy in Moscow working under a single bare bulb. Last week we had trouble doing one with a major brand. Change is happening so fast, its hard for it to change stuff…
Fax still give revenue to our NGo’s… Although it is an old school method….
Allen Roberts ORIG BUCKET GT LIGHT 500 1970 HEAD Torino 1971 Fairlane Ranchero Cobra 1969 1968 says
Tom,
You nailed it, again.
I work with SME’s and with most, the pace of change is way slower than in larger organisations that have the resources to engage new capabilities as they become common.
I am still regularly showing people how to use basic tools, like excel pivot tables, and they think it is magic, cannot believe it has been on their desks for a decade.
Andy Tiller says
Anyone who has tried doing collaboration calls with China will know this problem well – WeChat is the default answer. Zoom also seems to work well.
Usen Vank says
So true! I’ve experience the same. 10 years ago! I joined this company and they had this huge database in csv and they wanted an organised view. Hired an excel specialist and the guy wrote like 100’s of formulas with mediocre results. I showed them pivot table and they were staring at me as if they saw a tsunami coming .
Chuck says
Yes, it’s like that at our company too for “security purposes.” Whatever. LOL
Raja 1969 Torino Fairlane 1970 500 GT Cobra ORIG BUCKET LIGHT 1968 Ranchero 1971 HEAD ORIG Cobra Torino 1969 GT BUCKET 1970 500 Ranchero HEAD 1971 Fairlane 1968 LIGHT says
Funny and you still hit the point.
500 HEAD Torino GT 1970 1969 1971 Fairlane Ranchero 1968 ORIG LIGHT Cobra BUCKET Luca Majero says
I cannot leave a comment because I am still crying for laughter… As soon as I stop I’ll think of something… then I’ll start laughing again…
Diane Brown says
I remember working back in the 1990s for a company where you had two computers. One for employee use that was so locked down you could barely use it and one to do actual work. Technology is supposed to help a company’s employees do their work not hinder them.
Excellent, this so reflects a recent episode I had with an oil major, in the end we had 20 guys standing round a laptop taking turns in talking and watching a slide show
Alex says
How offen we see Technology department is driving the business . I am still living in a company IT department said we are not authorise your new software request because we do not see the business need ‘REALLY’ I replied
Peter says
John
The muddled grey mass between the ears is the single hardest element to change in any technology uplift
Technology implementation / integration can be achieved pro grammatically
People can’t be programmed
BUCKET 1970 LIGHT ORIG 1969 HEAD Cobra GT Torino 500 1971 Fairlane Ranchero 1968 Changing organizations is like carrying custard in a string bag
Stick your fingers in the holes, stuff squirts out everywhere
Love your work, love the insights
Peter