In my view, the worldwide financial crisis is clear evidence that many fundamental parts of our global economy lack effective information systems. The circumstantial evidence for this is the dreadful ease with which so many have been blind-sided so quickly by events.
That’s why I was pleased to see Richard Dennison’s blog this morning, which makes a clarion call today for urgent radical change. Dennison says: “If ever there was a time for a complete organisational drains-up, then it must surely be now.”
I could not agree more, these turbulent times will acclerate the pace of organisational change and enterprises will have to adapt quickly, or face the natural alternative to adaptation, i.e. extinction.
The status quo is no longer an option for so many spheres of operation, given the prevailing economic climate. To paraphrase another Darwin misquote, we are in an era where Survival of the Quickest is a vital factor.
We need to stop thinking just in terms of how “IT” can help our business, we need to start thinking about how we can create and sustain effective information systems that will facilitate the natural evolution and adaptation of our business.
Every organisation is a living system and therefore must continously adapt, if it wishes to remain relevant or viable in its environment. Hence the popularity of the “adapt or die” axiom.
However, I believe that there is a compelling need for a macro-level adaptation, rather than just the individual/ organisational imperative for survival. We need a genuine paradigm shift, forward from the redundant (IT-centric) paradigm, if we are to fulfil our fundamental obligations to our stakeholders, i.e. to deliver effective information systems.
I believe so strongly in the need for this adaptation that I am committing myself full time to helping the paradigm shift happen, not only through this blog but also by working with people who wish to move forward.
