May The Force Of Digital Transformation Be With You Posted on : Sep 27 - 2021

The Star Wars saga is one of the most entertaining yet proper ways one can use to describe, educate and lead on transformation for organizations. It is full of guiding principles that can be used to explain the process of transformation. My Star Wars-inspired definition of transformation is moving from one state to a fundamentally new one that builds upon the DNA of the organization. Throughout the first six episodes, we witness both Anakin and Luke Skywalker go through their own transformation (though one to the dark side) by means of learning new skills, using new technology and mastering new forces.

Today, organizations face unprecedented challenges for resources, products and services. Right when we thought we were entering the post-pandemic period, it has now become apparent that it will be further delayed. This delay puts organizations under pressure to cut more costs, improve business performance, optimize their supply chain and reallocate resources. Organizations are going through their own transformation, or in today's terms, digital transformation, and will need innovative technology, new processes and new skills.

Just as Luke interrupted his training with Master Yoda to help his rebel friends in the fight against the evil empire, organizations still need to run, operate and generate business and revenues while undergoing the necessary digital transformation changes. It's the "run and transform" mentality that presents the biggest challenge for organizations and, in many ways, stops them from proceeding.

How does an organization address "run and transform" challenges? In the spirit of Star Wars, I recommend the following best practices based on quotes from the iconic character Master Yoda:

"Feel the force!"

In just a few months, the pandemic has been a catalyst for transformation and brought more changes to the way we work than in the last 15 years. Organizations shouldn't stop now but rather embrace digital technologies with their own specific needs and requirements in mind.

It's paramount to develop effective organization and delivery models, establish a more efficient supply/demand chain and establish critical security and privacy requirements. This new ecosystem will be a combination of different building blocks, such as hybrid and multicloud, expansion of mobile edge computing, ruthless automation and global reach. The result will be a more efficient, agile, secure and cost-effective environment than today that can support the needs of the business now and in the future. View More