Rise of the Machines: Unleashing Organisational Resilience by Embracing Disruptive Technologies

Digital and technology-based disruption has been an ever-present concern – and opportunity – for organisations over the last couple of decades, no matter the industry. And it’s something that has only been dialling up over time, with small and large leaps forward in technology in recent years.

Take for example the latest sensation. ChatGPT holds the record for the fastest growth in users for an app, adding a million users in merely five days, with over a 100 million active users and upwards of a billion visits in the span of a month. It has sparked innumerable efforts regarding AI usage in everyday work, and has supercharged disruptive artificial intelligence (AI) based start-ups – both existing and new – across every industry.

What’s important to note is that generative AI is merely one among several disruptive technologies. A quick glance around will show you that Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), blockchain, 3D printing and robotics have either each made their own impact, or are starting to, on a scale that boggles the mind… There’s a lot more of these technologies out there, so what does this mean for you?

At some point in the near future, every organisation will need to make a make-or-break decision – either choose to embrace disruptive technologies, or get left behind by its competition.

You’ll likely agree that the decision is a no-brainer. Having the ability to adapt to and leverage disruptive technologies in a constantly evolving digital landscape is vital for organisational resilience. As a leader, you stand at the forefront of your organisation’s efforts in embracing the transformation technology can bring about… Not just in navigating the change successfully, but also to open the door to new opportunities for accelerated innovation, improved productivity, maximizing customer value and the growth of your organisation. 

A good example of why this is necessary would be the ripple effects from the direct impact that Tesla has made in the electric vehicle (EV) space. The status quo that existed across vehicle manufacturers that have been around for several decades was challenged, essentially to a point where traditional business models and investment in innovation have seen a step change towards something entirely different – and that was the obvious and easily visible change.

Image by standret, Freepik

The ripple effects though, hit businesses like car dealerships. If the user experience and effort that goes into buying a car from Tesla is the equivalent of placing an online order on Amazon, what happens to car dealerships, their margins and the quintessential car salesman? The direct sales and no dealership margin approach is now also being explored by other vehicle manufacturers due to Tesla’s success, so how will an entire industry of car dealerships endure this ongoing disruption?

This and similar situations are likely to impact every organisation out there in the coming years, no matter the industry – the direct impact or the ripple effects of disruptive technologies taking them into uncharted territories and perhaps completely reshaping the way they operate.

And it’s in circumstances such as these where your organisation’s resilience in the face of change will be tested. Those familiar with change management will recognize that it is essential to get ahead of this, as with major change comes a fear of the unknown and in turn, resistance to change. Dealing with these aspects is critical, as it’s precisely at this point where organisations need to embrace change, and not fear it.

To strengthen organisational resilience in a rapidly changing business landscape requires leaders to step up and lead by example, fostering innovation, exploring new possibilities and challenging the status quo hand-in-hand with their people. 

This last bit about working with your people is particularly important, as there will be fears and concerns – about their role, job security, colleagues and more. Overcoming these fears and concerns is never a simple matter, but it can be done. Here are a few ideas on how to work with your people to begin embracing the change brought about disruptive technologies:

• Set a clear vision, establish a common purpose. Combat resistance to change through clear communication and transparency on the benefits it can bring, sharing what your strategy is to deal with the change.

• Traditional, hierarchical organisational structures and an over-dependence on existing processes can slow down decision-making and your responsiveness to change. Work with your people to become agile and empower them to experiment and take calculated risks.

• The phrase “fail fast” has been commonly used in recent parlance, but it needs to be followed by another phrase, “learn from your failures, and build on them until you achieve success”. Instil this maxim into the way your people work, and provide them with an environment of psychological safety, so that they can achieve success.

• Draw in ideas and involve your people in decision-making where possible – this will build a sense of ownership and commitment to the change.

• Turn disruptive technologies into an opportunity to learn and grow professionally, rather than a threat, investing in and instilling a culture of continuous learning.

• And if you’ve ever heard the phrase “This is how it’s always been done here”, you should know that’s where you should start considering alternatives!

This is not an exhaustive list, but it can put you on the right track to unlock and strengthen organisational resilience as you embrace disruptive technologies.

However, the way forward isn’t one-dimensional. It’s critical to note that the process in which you leverage disruptive technologies shouldn’t be a matter of reinventing the wheel. In this case, organisational resilience can be strengthened through other aspects such as partnerships and collaboration.

Whether IoT, AI, VR, AR or any other technologies, no single organisation will have the expertise needed to harness all of these technologies to their fullest from day one. Strategic partnerships and timely collaboration with startups, universities and industry experts can let you tap into a wealth of knowledge that can smoothen your way forward.

You can also exchange best practices with other organisations across industries, using lessons learned from each other’s experiences to accelerate your progress.

To conclude, a key component to organisational resilience starts with keeping your eyes open to what’s coming your way – know what disruptive technologies are coming to the fore, extrapolate what impact they will have on you and your organisation and get ahead of the change, working with your people to adapt and succeed.

As you strengthen your organisational resilience and future-proof your organisation by embracing disruptive technologies through these efforts, you can gain a competitive advantage, positioning your organisation as a leader in innovation, ready to seize new opportunities and deliver unparalleled customer experiences!

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