Technology and Process are Essentially Solved!

Technology has become a commodity, making it easier and cheaper to buy and deploy. Agile processes are crucial in an environment where technology is commoditized is solved by commoditization.

The commoditization of technology means that other people have already solved most of your technology problems:

• Flexible technology and data platforms designed around business priorities.

• Created by experts who are focused on customer needs, e.g., Shopify.

• Buy vs. build -- the answer is almost always to buy.

• Exception: deliberately choosing to differentiate through staying at the cutting edge.

Process is solved by becoming agile

• Differentiation at the top of the stack is an especially good use case for agile

• Agile allows the buy instead of build decision to happen

• Quick iteration is required to stay ahead of the competition

• "It's not complicated, it's hard."

• Technology has become a commodity, with tools and systems becoming more powerful, easier to deploy and manage, and cheaper.

• Personal computers and common software tools have become commodities, reducing the need for building new applications.

• Companies like Shopify have turned ecommerce store creation into a commodity, reducing the need for bespoke solutions.

• Artificial intelligence has become more accessible and cost-effective due to new tools and systems.

• Most technologies, including robotics, are commoditized, with only a few exceptions at the cutting edge. Agility is crucial in making smart buy versus build decisions and differentiating quickly.

Clear goals and alignment to your North Star

A successful strategy takes a holistic approach to your business, taking you from where you are to where you want to be.

• Maintain current business.

• Create a pathway to the future.

• Allocate appropriate resources for both.

“Mac can become the ‘digital hub’ of our emerging digital lifestyle, adding tremendous value to our other digital devices.”

Steve Jobs - MacWorld 2001

Assess your Skill Gap

• What skills do we need? Do we even know enough to understand our skill gaps?

• Can we do this with the people we currently have?

• Can we upskill or reskill?

How do we upskill or reskill?

• Requires a deliberate strategy that is rooted in the organization's business goals

• Must be scalable and effective

• Empower leaders, enable practitioners, and build digital fluency throughout the organization

• Focused on acquiring and maintaining the relevant skillset to meet current and future business needs

A successful culture values curiosity, empathy, and the ability to learn.

• Motivating and developing internal talent to stay relevant.

• You can't outsource it, and you can't fake it.

• Not every culture fits every person.

We want to make sure that employees aren't here just for paychecks and truly believe this is the right place for them.

Tony Hsieh, Zappos CEO

SUMMARY

Technology

• Our organization has invested in innovative technology.

• Our IT operations are integrated with our business units and are focused on enabling our teams to meet customer needs better.

• Our organization collects and uses data effectively.

Process

• We can make decisions quickly.

• We are comfortable working with incomplete information and relying on iteration to expand our understanding.

• Our organization tolerates failure and learns from experimentation.

Strategy

• Everyone in our organization understands and can articulate our organization's mission statement.

• We are prepared to allocate the resources we need to maintain our current business while creating a path to the future.

• Our organization understands how to write meaningful and measurable goals.

People and Culture

• Our culture focuses on deeply understanding our customers' needs and desires.

• Our leadership understands the skills we need to succeed and has identified any skill gaps.

• Our talent development builds digital literacy throughout the organization.

• We support developing and maintaining relevant, practitioner-level skills to meet our current and future needs.