How do you manage change with disruptive technologies?

1 Understand the impact

The first step is to understand the impact of the disruptive technology on your industry, customers, competitors, and stakeholders. You need to assess how it affects your value proposition, your business model, your capabilities, and your culture. You also need to identify the opportunities and threats that it creates, and the potential scenarios that could unfold. This will help you to define your strategic vision and goals, and to communicate them clearly to your team and partners.

2 Engage your people

The second step is to engage your people in the change process. You need to create a sense of urgency and a shared purpose, and to foster a culture of innovation and learning. You also need to provide support and guidance, and to empower your people to experiment and collaborate. You can use various tools and techniques, such as design thinking, agile methods, and co-creation, to involve your people in generating ideas, testing assumptions, and implementing solutions.

3 Monitor and adapt

The third step is to monitor and adapt to the changing environment. You need to measure and evaluate your progress and performance, and to collect feedback and insights from your customers, employees, and other stakeholders. You also need to anticipate and respond to new developments, challenges, and opportunities, and to adjust your strategy and actions accordingly. You can use tools and techniques such as data analytics, scenario planning, and prototyping, to track and analyze trends, signals, and outcomes, and to iterate and improve your solutions.

4 Manage the risks

The fourth step is to manage the risks associated with the disruptive technology. You need to identify and assess the potential legal, ethical, social, and environmental implications of your innovation, and to mitigate or prevent any negative consequences. You also need to protect your intellectual property, your reputation, and your assets, and to comply with relevant regulations and standards. You can use tools and techniques such as risk management frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and governance structures, to address and balance the risks and benefits of your innovation.

5 Learn from others

The fifth step is to learn from others who have faced or embraced disruptive technologies. You need to benchmark and compare your performance and practices with your peers and competitors, and to seek inspiration and insights from other industries and sectors. You also need to network and collaborate with other innovators, experts, and influencers, and to leverage their knowledge, experience, and resources. You can use tools and techniques such as case studies, best practices, and partnerships, to learn from and with others.

6 Embrace the change

The sixth step is to embrace the change that the disruptive technology brings. You need to accept and appreciate the uncertainty and complexity of the innovation process, and to adopt a positive and proactive attitude. You also need to celebrate and reward your achievements and successes, and to recognize and learn from your failures and challenges. You can use tools and techniques such as storytelling, gamification, and feedback loops, to motivate and inspire yourself and others, and to create a lasting impact with your innovation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?