Digital Transformation: A Mindset, not a Project

Prof. Chitvan Mehrotra,

 IBS, Mumbai.

Where haven’t we heard the word digital? It’s in the newspapers, blogs, websites, meetings– in short everywhere. It’s the new buzzword, and more importantly, it is here to stay. But is it a project  with deadlines and a neat finish date? Or is it a shift in mindset, something we need to absorb and adapt to in our daily lives? Students, leaders and academicians who will shape the future need to understand what to truly expect from the word digital., Only then can our lives  be transformed in a meaningful, digital way.

Why Digital Transformation Cannot Be Treated as a Project

Can we define a deadline for digital transformation or fix metrics to quantify it? The answer is “no”. It has no sprints, no fixed milestones and it cannot be declared complete. None of the organisations can call itself fully transformed and stop growing. The moment someone decides, “we have achieved it”, growth stalls.

It is not just an technology upgrade handled by the IT department but a movement where each department has to contribute and work together to bring about that change faster. What is expected in return is not a short-term upgrade but a long-term cultural shift that can help the organisations grow and evolve into a new-age enterprise.

The foundation of digital change lies in people, not technology

• Embracing change and moving forward

First, people need to embrace the change that has arrived.  There was a time when people wondered how would we use the internet, but everyone sailed through. In the same way, the revolution of digitisation is a breakthrough, and we should accept that this shift is here to stay. Our mindset needs to change too. Once there is psychological acceptance, a major barrier is already crossed.

• Continuously learning and growing

We need to be consistent in our learning curves; only then theadaptation of anything new is possible. We need to investigate the sources which can keep us technically updated, because the moment we stop learning, we stop growing. The new generation especially needs to realise that they are blessed with many digital resources, but putting in the effort is important

• Collaboration is the way forward

Gone are those days when an individual could handle everything in business on their own. If we really want to be organisation that represents the new age organisations, we need to collaborate and bring to the table our expertise. An IT person can better understand the data structures, logic and programming but the validity of that logic can be better assessed by a marketing professional. So, we need to come together and make this movement happen.

Leadership sets the foundation for a digital-ready mindset

Leaders play an important role in bringing about any change because sometimes we have the desire to accept something new, but there must be someone to hold the torch.

• Show willingness to experiment and adapt new tools

Willingness to take risks and experiment is the most important aspect of any change. Every year we have new tools and technology, at our door, and the hunger to learn and experiment with them drives big movements and transformations.

• Encourage feedback from all stakeholders

Feedback should be encouraged by the management to understand the ground level challenges in training and implementation.

• Invest in optimistic people to drive the change

The people with the right mindset should be hired by organisations because while technology and tools can keep changing, what does not change is a person’s mindset. If someone is positive about accepting and embracing change, then whatever transformation is required becomes possible.

• Rewards and incentives are good motivators

Good ideas for digital transformation should be rewarded to motivate everyone around to contribute to the need of the hour.

• Recognise efforts of the people

Every failed attempt is also a milestone towards success; the efforts put into any transformation never go to waste. Therefore, the effort to try should never stop.

• Lead from the front and set an example

The leaders should adopt the digital initiatives in their day-to-day activities and encourage similar adoption and automation. If they display a positive attitude towards digital transformation, the masses are bound to follow.

When Mindset Becomes Practice: Enabling Ongoing Transformation

• Data driven decision making

Data should be the driving force for any decision taken in the organisation.

• Customer data over perceptions

What does the customer data say? Almost everything the companies need to know. Instead of assuming what the company thinks, relying on the actual source is a better way to understand the customer.

• Automation for routine tasks

Automation of routine tasks can not only save money which can be used for investment in better tools, but also saves time which can be put to better use in learning and upgrading the skill set.

• Adoption of agile methodology

Agile methodology which celebrates smaller sprint cycles demonstrates better customer understanding and stronger teamwork. So instead of traditional methods, agile methods of project development should be encouraged.

Does this matter to B-School students?

Of course, yes, because they are the future leaders and will someday be making strategies to drive transformations. The students should keep in mind the following points:-

• Technology will keep changing; change is the only constant
• The right mindset can drive transformations
• A team player is more valued asset than an intelligent IT person
• Projects deliver outputs, but mindsets deliver innovation.

Conclusion

The organisations should not look at digital transformation as a project that will end some day, but as a constant, sustainable movement that requires growth and effort each day.

When organisations encourage the right mindset, they see beyond tools and technology and grow faster.

In today’s world, which is evolving at a rapid pace, mindset is an essential skill.