{"id":635093,"date":"2018-12-11T09:00:26","date_gmt":"2018-12-11T08:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ie.edu\/insights\/?post_type=articles&p=635093"},"modified":"2019-03-12T10:18:29","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T09:18:29","slug":"wanted-digital-leaders","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.ie.edu\/insights\/articles\/wanted-digital-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Wanted: Digital Leaders"},"featured_media":642646,"template":"","meta":{"_has_post_settings":[]},"schools":[33,35],"areas":[24,25,26],"subjects":[],"class_list":["post-635093","articles","type-articles","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","schools-human-sciences-and-technology","schools-university","areas-strategy","areas-talent","areas-technology"],"custom-fields":{"wpcf-article-leadin":["Although we tend to focus on technology, culture is actually the most important part of digital transformation in any organization. In this strategic process, it is essential to have digital leaders throughout the organization so that a common language can be developed. In this conversation, IE Business School Professors Cristina \u00c1lvarez and Borja Gonz\u00e1lez del Regueral discuss the in-depth reflection process that all companies should undertake to ensure that this transformation process constitutes a true investment. In their view, technology is actually the easiest part."],"wpcf-article-body":["Cristina \u00c1lvarez:<\/strong> Technology<\/a> and changing consumer habits are the big disruptions currently affecting the business world. These factors, plus the transformation, have given rise to a different sort of leadership style. Technology has been around for many years, but nowadays the combination of cost and processing capacity is practically marginal. Digitalization is now affordable for any organization.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBorja Gonz\u00e1lez:<\/strong> In both the telecommunications world\u2014where you come from, Cristina\u2014and in the energy industry, the change has to do with viewing technology<\/a> as an investment rather than an expense. However, resources are often allocated without a clear objective. Hence the need for digital leaders: people who know how to shake things up and set goals for the use of tech-based resources.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nCristina \u00c1lvarez:<\/strong> People often say that there\u2019s a lot of hype around the digital world. I\u2019ve heard this in many different forums. In my experience, however, very few organizations really bother to reflect on how they want to use these tools. Investing in big data or blockchain doesn\u2019t make you digital; it\u2019s a more reasoned process. The most important thing is the concept of core transformation and its impact on the bottom line.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBorja Gonz\u00e1lez:<\/strong> Indeed. Ninety-nine percent of companies are traditional, but they all want to be like Google. How can we compete if we all want to be GAFA? It must be said that not all organizations have the same needs or the same type of customer. Over time, companies have started to grasp the need to develop a strategy<\/a> that treats technology<\/a> like any other asset, rather than as an end in itself. The transformation therefore takes on a cultural dimension, which is actually the most important part of the process.\r\n
Companies have started to grasp the need to develop a strategy that treats technology like any other asset, rather than as an end in itself. The transformation therefore takes on a cultural dimension.<\/blockquote>\r\nCristina \u00c1lvarez:<\/strong> That\u2019s the key. Technology<\/a> is the simplest part of the change. The most complicated part has to do with people. The impact cuts across the entire organization. As consumer habits change, companies must abandon traditional vertical structures, so if they don\u2019t have digital leaders in place throughout the organization, the transformation simply will not happen.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBorja Gonz\u00e1lez:<\/strong> And to do that, they have to adapt their discourse. It\u2019s a complex but necessary process to get the various teams to understand each other, with technology<\/a> as a recurring theme.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nCristina \u00c1lvarez:<\/strong> The common language has to be the language of business. In other words, how does a particular tool help to improve the business? Employees with technical profiles in marketing<\/a>, finance<\/a>, or human resources need to understand how this transformation process benefits them. It\u2019s a collective journey in pursuit of a common objective. Of course, no one should expect results in the short term.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBorja Gonz\u00e1lez:<\/strong> Indeed, it\u2019s a long journey guided by customer satisfaction. You have to turn 180\u00a0degrees and focus on the customer. It sounds like a very subtle change, but everything goes along with it. Human resources must identify the talent<\/a> and skills that are needed to lead teams in this direction.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nCristina \u00c1lvarez:<\/strong> Let\u2019s get back to the topic of leadership. It\u2019s been shown that the world\u2019s top-performing companies are those that understand\u2014at every level of the organization\u2014that technology<\/a> is a factor that will disrupt their business model. We could go on to discuss the level of risk assumed and the speed with which the company acts. No two transformations are the same.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBorja Gonz\u00e1lez:<\/strong> I would add another component: honesty. Before you can design a strategy<\/a>, you need an honest diagnosis: a 360-degree assessment of the organization. Knowing what you have, what you need, where you are, how you got there, and where you want to go\u2014these are key questions in any prior reflection process. Not knowing the starting point is a common mistake.\r\n
You have to be the first, even if the product is imperfect. The customer will always buy that convenience.<\/blockquote>\r\nCristina \u00c1lvarez:<\/strong> This is an internal reflection that each area must undertake. Failure to do so can lead to major fractures during the change process.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBorja Gonz\u00e1lez:<\/strong> I agree. Without this sort of internal analysis, there cannot be a proper transformation, just cosmetic changes. Also, it\u2019s important to realize, when you adopt a strategic<\/a> approach, that many questions without clear answers will crop up along the way.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nCristina \u00c1lvarez:<\/strong> Digitalization has prompted a reassessment of the functions of each department. Therefore, no two business areas will move at the same speed. In today\u2019s world, speed is the most important competitive<\/a> factor in business.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBorja Gonz\u00e1lez:<\/strong> And turnaround times are much shorter. Therefore, you also need a different mindset\u2014one that is more flexible with regard to new uncertainties. This brings us to concepts like creativity, experimentation, and curiosity. There is no such thing as failure, only lessons learned.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nCristina \u00c1lvarez:<\/strong> The way to learn is by doing. It\u2019s better to have an improvable product on the market than none at all. It provides competitive<\/a> advantages and agility. But you have to be the first, even if the product is imperfect. The customer will always buy that convenience.<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\u00a9 IE Insights."],"wpcf-article-extract-enable":["1"],"wpcf-article-extract":["Cristina \u00c1lvarez and Borja Gonz\u00e1lez del Regueral<\/strong> discuss the in-depth reflection process that all companies should undertake to ensure that this transformation process constitutes a true investment."],"wpcf-article-summary-enable":["1"],"wpcf-article-summary":["In this conversation, IE Business School Professors Cristina \u00c1lvarez and Borja Gonz\u00e1lez del Regueral discuss the need for organizations to have digital leaders capable of efficiently implementing the necessary digital transformation. Ideally, each business area should have a digital leader, so that the entire organization can get on the same page with regard to technology. This internal reflection process typically generates uncertainties. As a result, risks have to be assumed at a much quicker pace than in the past. An open mindset, creativity, and flexibility in decision-making are the keys to launching this transformation, which should be considered a learning journey."]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ie.edu\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles\/635093","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ie.edu\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ie.edu\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/articles"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ie.edu\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/642646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ie.edu\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=635093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"schools","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ie.edu\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/schools?post=635093"},{"taxonomy":"areas","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ie.edu\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/areas?post=635093"},{"taxonomy":"subjects","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ie.edu\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subjects?post=635093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}