Digital Strategy, Operating Models & Technology Implementation Insight
Boost business success via insights on emerging trends in digital transformation and IT strategy; practical frameworks you can apply; and guidance from the world’s experts in leadership, IaaS, investment prioritization, operational excellence, sustainable innovation, change management, enterprise agility, and applying emerging technologies.
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Effective Transformation: Rethinking Your Strategic Roadmap and Operating Model
In this Executive Update, we assess how a gradual transformation from traditional IT/network units to a more functional organization, using the example of telecom operators, will address several legacy constraints in adopting new technologies. Effective implementation of such a project reduces costs and organizational redundancies and provides the further push to digitalization.
Seeking the Right Skills for Industry 4.0
In the webinar, “Overcoming the Industry 4.0 Skills Shortage,” Barry M. O'Reilly discussed the skills shortage that is both inevitable and predictable when businesses try to solve problems with Industry 4.0, which is less about automating old processes and more about inventing a new world in which computing drives business rather than mirrors it. It is apparent that we cannot simply continue as we have in the past. Educating engineers faster, matching them to jobs more easily, and simply doing “the same old thing” has not solved the earlier skills crises — and Industry 4.0 presents even tougher challenges than what we have experienced thus far. In this Advisor, Barry shares some responses to questions following the webinar.
2020 Trends and Predictions — Opening Statement
With all that is new and changing before our eyes, we asked the Cutter Consortium team of experts to weigh in on the technologies, strategies, and business models that will have the most relevance this year and beyond.
Trends Shaping Drone Adoption for 2020 and Beyond
Helen Pukszta brings us up to speed on the trends shaping drone usage. She foresees more enactment of regulations and new opportunities for business users of drones as well as for drone technology providers. According to Pukszta, “Regulatory changes, new drone technology, and continuing business adoption will make 2020 an exciting year for all drone users, but many sweeping changes, opportunities, and automation benefits of drones are still ahead of us.” How might your organization benefit from drones?
2020: The Year That Agile Gets Found Out
Barry M. O’Reilly questions the validity of Agile practices. According to him, “The Agile movement’s focus on process as the solution to uncertainty has allowed technical quality to fall by the wayside, bringing even more doubt as to the ability of Agile to actually deliver.” O’Reilly contends that “only the people working directly with a problem can decide on tools and process in the evolving picture of their project, and their individual talents — not adherence to or avoidance of certain ideas — guide whether they achieve success or not.” What is your opinion on Agile versus talent, or is it Agile and talent?
Tokens and the Token Economy
The combination of a blockchain data structure and a set of consensus rules allows something magical to happen: stateless, bankless, digital money (aka cryptocurrency). More precisely, what is loosely described as a cryptocurrency is a fungible “token” that is “native” to a blockchain. The major native tokens can be exchanged for the government-backed fiat currencies we are more used to, but smart contracts can create and maintain special-purpose tokens.
AI and Natural Language 2020: New Regulations and New Developments
Curt Hall predicts an increase in enterprise adoption of AI and, echoing Andriole’s sentiments, emphasizes “calls for new regulations to help guide and ensure the fair use of the technology.” He also anticipates a demand for greater transparency, fairness, and “explainability” in AI applications and products from developers and end-user organizations.
Autonomous Systems Are Rising; Seize the Opportunities!
Autonomous systems are on the rise and, according to Cutter Consortium Senior Consultant San Murugesan, will “transform many different sectors in unimaginable ways.” He describes how technologies such as IoT, drones, robotics, ML, AI, and nano, among others, will extend the capabilities of autonomous systems. Current applications of autonomous systems technology draw attention to the adoption challenges.