Dispelling the Digital Transformation Myth
Schmidt List | Hosted by Kurt Schmidt | April 2023
About this episode
Jen joins Kurt Schmidt on the Schmidt List podcast to challenge the conventional wisdom around digital transformation — and make the case that technology investment alone is never enough. They dig into why so many transformation efforts stall, what leaders get wrong when they treat it as an IT problem, and what it actually takes to build the organizational and cultural conditions for lasting change.
What they covered
Why "digital transformation" is often code for catching up — and what a more honest framing looks like
The difference between buying a technology and actually being ready to use it
Why transformation efforts that start and stay in IT are set up to fail
How the shift from siloed, command-and-control structures to cross-functional teams breaks everything leaders have been rewarded for
Why existential threat is a more powerful motivator than competitive parity — and why that matters
What questions leaders should ask themselves before bringing in outside help
A few things Jen said
"Be very wary of anyone who comes to the pitch meeting with dogma. There is no silver bullet to this."
"A little bit of existential threat is a helpful thing if you're going to really transform an organization."
"The lions are waiting in the tall grass. If you don't ask about them early on, the worst case scenario is finding out about them face to face."
"70% of the Fortune 500 have taken on digital transformation in some way, shape or form — and they can't all be feeling good about the investment they've made."
About Schmidt List
The Schmidt List is a podcast for people dedicated to managing successful projects, developing impactful products, and building engaged teams, hosted by Kurt Schmidt.