The Innovation Show The Innovation Show

David Rogers - The Digital Transformation Roadmap Part 2
 
Mastering Digital Transformation: Insights from David Rogers
 
In this engaging episode, Aidan sits down with David Rogers, the author of 'The Digital Transformation Roadmap'. They delve into the significant challenges and strategies for digital transformation within organisations. Key topics include overcoming psychological and organisational debt, technical capabilities required for transformation, the importance of suitable technology, retaining key talent, and evolving organisational culture. David also shares insights on governance and iterative funding, emphasising the need for smart shutdowns and resource allocation. The episode is packed with practical examples, including successful digital transformations at Walmart and Netflix. David's profound experience and practical tools make this essential listening for business leaders and innovators.
 
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:13 Understanding Organisational and Technical Debt
02:18 The Importance of Tech Capabilities
03:29 Talent and Culture in Digital Transformation
05:19 Governance in Digital Transformation
08:27 The Role of Teams and Boards
20:00 Smart Shutdowns and Innovation Governance
26:07 The Corporate Innovation Stack
29:34 The Broken Model of Innovation
30:02 Governance Model for Innovation
30:42 Path Three Innovations: Challenges and Management
32:15 Innovation Structures and Strategies
34:12 Skipping Vision and Priorities
35:07 Walmart's Strategic Innovation in Online Grocery
41:24 Four Stages of Validation
49:21 Case Studies: Netflix and Diapers.com
54:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
 
Find David here: https://davidrogers.digital
 
Find Aidan McCullen for Keynotes and Corporate Workshops here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen/
 
David Rogers, Aidan McCullen, Digital Transformation, Innovation Governance, Iterative Funding, Corporate Innovation, Organizational Change, Innovation Strategy, Technical Debt, Psychological Debt, Innovation Boards, Startup Culture, Agile Methodology, Product Validation, Strategic Priorities, Business Validation, Smart Shutdowns, Innovation Stack, Customer Validation, Executive Insights
 

Unlocking Successful Digital Transformation: Insights from David L. Rogers
In this episode, David L. Rogers, author of 'The Digital Transformation Roadmap' and 'The Digital Transformation Playbook,' joins Aidan to discuss the critical steps and challenges businesses face in their journey towards digital transformation. Rogers emphasises the importance of transforming not just products and business models but the organisation itself. 
He outlines five major barriers to success: vision, priorities, experimentation, governance, and capabilities. 
 
Through insightful case studies such as the New York Times and CNN+, Rogers illustrates the pitfalls and successful strategies for driving meaningful innovation. 
 
Additionally, he highlights the need for iterative funding and continuous adaptation in the face of uncertainty. This episode is packed with practical advice and lessons drawn from two decades of research and real-world examples, aimed at helping leaders navigate and thrive in the digital age.
 
00:00 Introduction to Digital Transformation
00:57 Meet the Author: David L. Rogers
01:47 The Evolution of Digital Transformation
02:36 Challenges and Misconceptions
07:48 Defining Digital Transformation
09:56 Barriers to Success
22:26 Case Study: The New York Times
31:33 Setting Realistic Expectations for Change
32:21 Defining a Clear Vision for Change
34:03 Empathy and Resistance to Change
34:53 Challenges of Corporate Innovation
36:15 Addressing Uncertainty in Innovation
39:27 Paths to Innovation and Growth
41:41 Case Study: The Failure of CNN Plus
49:55 Iterative Funding and the Facebook Example
54:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
 
Find David here: 
Substack: http://davidrogersdigital.substack.com
Website: https://davidrogers.digital
 
The Missing Link Between Strategy and Innovation article David mentioned:
https://hbr.org/2024/03/the-missing-link-between-strategy-and-innovation
 
The episode we mentioned with Steve Blank:
The Startup Owner's Manual: The Step-By-Step Guide for Building a Great Company
https://youtu.be/JbPRE2oCjnY?si=S0ULzjFLdnsU-1Ix
 
Aidan McCullen, David Rogers, digital transformation roadmap, digital transformation playbook, corporate governance, iterative experimentation, Facebook, CNN Plus, startup funding, media industry, New York Times, Steve Blank, Bob Dorf, Rita McGrath, Stefan Tompkin, Peter Thiel, Jason Keillar, Jeff Zucker
 
 
 
 

In the latest episode of the Corporate Explorer series, brought to you by Wazoku, we discuss the importance of balancing personal instincts with data and evidence in business decisions. Guests, Product Marketing Manager for Electric Vehicles & Customer Experience with Cadillac, Sarah Spoto and Vincent Ducret from ChangeLogic share their experiences of implementing experimental frameworks in China for General Motors. They emphasize the critical steps of assumption analysis, prioritizing hypotheses, and iterative experimentation, while also addressing challenges in corporate environments, such as maintaining cultural buy-in and celebrating failures as learning opportunities. Sponsored by Wazoku, the episode offers deep dives into innovation management, strategic risk-taking, and the use of connected collective intelligence to drive business success.
00:00 Introduction: The Pitfalls of Instinct-Driven Decisions
00:40 The Role of Data in Corporate Exploration
01:07 Sponsor Message: Wazoku's Innovation Ecosystem
01:56 Incubation and De-risking New Business Ideas
02:19 Meet the Corporate Explorers: Sarah Spoto and Vincent Ducraix
02:50 Sarah Spoto's Journey in Corporate Innovation
04:40 Vincent Ducraix's Background and Experience
06:55 The Business Learning Life Cycle Framework
08:10 The Importance of De-risking in Corporate Ventures
13:04 Challenges and Strategies in Corporate Experimentation
14:33 The Role of Leadership and Team Buy-in
21:08 Case Study: Experimentation in China
30:28 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
Find Sarah here: https://sarahspoto.com
Find Vincent here: https://changelogic.com/team/vincent-ducret/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vducret/ 
 
Key Takeaways
This conversation explores business experimentation using a framework outlined in the Corporate Explorer book. Here are the key takeaways:
Challenges of Corporate Innovation:
Reliance on past experience can lead to failure in new ventures due to high uncertainties. Traditional methods like surveys might not capture the right data for untested ideas. The Business Experiments Framework:
Identify Key Assumptions: List all critical assumptions about your new venture (customer value proposition,problem addressed, etc.). Prioritize Assumptions: Focus on the riskiest assumptions that could derail the project. Design Experiments: Create creative experiments to test these assumptions with real customer data (not just surveys). Collect Learnings: Analyze experiment results to validate or disprove assumptions. Iterate: Use learnings to refine your approach and potentially conduct new experiments on remaining assumptions. Benefits of Business Experiments:
Reduces risk by validating assumptions before significant resource investment. Provides data-driven decision making for building the right product for the right customer. Challenges of Implementing Business Experiments:
Balancing Speed and De-risking: There's a tension between demonstrating progress and taking the time to properly de-risk the project. Cultural Shift: Organizations need to embrace experimentation and see failures as learning opportunities. Team Buy-in: Both leadership and working-level teams need to understand the value of experimentation. Success Factors:
Strong Leadership Support: Having advocates who understand and champion the approach is crucial. Cultural Investment: Educate teams on the process and celebrate failures as learning opportunities. Focus on Learning: Value the insights gained from experiments, even if they disprove assumptions. Example Implementation:
Sarah Spoto's experience in China highlights the importance of setting the right incentives and building a cross-functional team for experimentation. Assumptions analysis is a valuable starting point, even if full experimentation isn't implemented. Overall, business experimentation offers a structured approach for de-risking new ventures and making data-driven decisions in the face of uncertainty

The Power of Communication: Insights from Sally Susman, Author of 'Breaking Through'
 
In this episode, Aiden welcomes Sally Susman, author of 'Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World' to discuss the vital role of communication in professional and personal settings. Sally shares insights from her extensive career, including her experiences working with top leaders at Pfizer, Estee Lauder, and American Express. The discussion explores the misconception of communication as a soft skill, the importance of authentic outreach, the power of gratitude, and Susman's innovative approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sally also emphasises curiosity, creativity, and intentionality as key components for effective communication. Throughout the episode, real-life anecdotes and practical advice offer listeners valuable lessons on leadership and connection.
 
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:39 The Importance of Communication
03:24 Lessons from Estee Lauder
06:09 Personal Background and Family Influence
08:51 The Power of Gratitude
13:15 Perfecting Your Pitch
23:02 Humour in the Workplace
29:36 Challenges at Pfizer
32:03 Facing the Biopharma Reputation Challenge
33:37 The Pandemic's Impact and New Leadership
35:02 Albert Bourla's Bold Vision
36:30 Revolutionising Vaccine Development
37:25 The Media's Role in the Journey
38:55 Pfizer's Transformation and Recognition
40:46 Innovative Leadership and Personal Growth
49:30 Curiosity and Creativity in Action
56:47 The Power of Intentionality
58:46 Concluding Thoughts and Inspirations
Find Sally here: https://www.sallysusman.com/media/

  
 
The Proximity Revolution: Transforming Industries and Daily Life
 
In this episode, we delve into the proximity revolution with authors Rob C. Wolcott and Kaihan Krippendorff. The discussion centers on how digital technologies are expediting the production and delivery of customized products, services, and experiences, vastly transforming industries from agriculture to healthcare. The concept of 'proximity' shows promise in improving sustainability, optimizing supply chains, and enhancing customer personalization through innovations like vertical farming and on-demand 3D printing. 
 
The conversation also explores the strategic implications of this shift for businesses, highlighting the importance of visionary thinking and practical applications. Tune in to discover how proximity is poised to reshape our world and what leaders can do to navigate these changes effectively.
 
00:00 Introduction to the Proximity Revolution
01:02 Meet the Authors: Rob C. Wolcott and Kaihan Krippendorff
02:25 Defining Proximity: Anything, Anywhere, Anytime
03:28 Real-World Examples: Coca Cola Freestyle and Vertical Farms
06:09 Proximity in Agriculture: From Dubai to Your Dinner Table
09:52 The Role of Technology in Proximity
11:15 Proximity in Food Supply Chains: Efficiency and Sustainability
12:50 Innovative Solutions: Haier's Peking Duck Challenge
16:34 Moment of Use and Controlled Environment Agriculture
22:54 Case Study: Interstellar Lab and Growing Food on Mars
26:38 Why Proximity? The Drivers Behind the Trend
27:00 The Shift in Global Conditions and Technology
28:04 The Rise of Small Footprint Production
28:42 Digital Proximity and Generative AI
29:28 Geopolitical and Climate Drivers
30:16 The Digital Customer and Predictive Analytics
30:53 Domino's Pizza: A Case Study in Proximity
33:26 Healthcare Revolution: Medicines on Demand
34:52 On Demand Pharmaceuticals: A Game Changer
37:37 Future of Healthcare: Predictive Monitoring
42:53 Proximity Strategies for Businesses
49:01 Investing in Proximity Innovations
51:09 Conclusion and Where to Find More
52:09 Bonus Episode on Proximity in Action with Dr Ian McCabe
 

Understanding Emotional Dynamics for Creative Problem Solving with Wendy Smith
 
In this episode, Aidan is joined by Wendy Smith, co-author of 'Both/And Thinking,' to discuss the crucial role of emotions in addressing creative tensions and solving tough problems. Wendy emphasises moving beyond cognitive approaches to engage the heart, recognising and honouring emotions as vital to navigating uncertainty and innovation. The episode dives deep into actionable tools such as pausing to reflect, broadening perspectives, and dynamically adapting to changing environments. The episode concludes with practical insights from Unilever's approach to managing tensions under Paul Polman's leadership and tips for leaders to embrace paradoxical thinking in their organisations.
 
00:00 Introduction to Embracing Tensions
02:07 The Importance of Emotions in Innovation
03:45 Tools for Comfort with Discomfort
06:27 The Power of Pausing and Breathing
15:08 Broadening Perspectives for Creative Solutions
18:08 Navigating Organisational Change and Conflict
19:46 The Role of Dynamism in Innovation
22:56 Case Study: Honda's Emergent Strategy
26:09 Case Study: Paul Polman and Unilever
36:59 Leadership and Paradox Management
48:17 Conclusion and Resources
 
 
Find Wendy here:
https://bothandthinking.net
And Substack here:
https://wendyksmith.substack.com
 
Contact Aidan McCullen for Keynote Speaking, Corporate Workshops and Education Tourism to Dublin and California: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanmccullen/
https://aidanmccullen.com
 
Find the Innovation Show on Substack and Website: 
https://thethursdaythought.substack.com
https://theinnovationshow.io