Current and Emerging Technology Critical Review 1
C962 Current and Emerging Technology Critical Review
Western Governors University
The Information Age has pivoted the way of leaders, businesses, and organizations. There is now
the realization that to stay relevant in the industry the focus cannot solely be on products and services
, Current and Emerging Technology Critical Review 2
but rather, the focus must also include an organizations people, technology, and transformation. There
are three books that have been reviewed in the following texts that describe three current trends. The
Front-Line Leader by Chris Van Gorder will focus on the Emerging Organizational Leadership Trend.
Leading Change by John P. Kotter will focus on Emerging Principles and Processes and The Second
Machine Age by Eric Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee will cover the Emerging Technology Trend.
A. Summary of Societal Impact for Each Trend
Book 1: Leadership Trend- The Front-Line Leader
Chris Van Gorder uses this book to explain how he has been able to build an environment within Scripps
Health that not only is conducive to change but also employee retention. There are multiple sections
within the text where Van Gorder describes real life examples of how the company’s environment had
been transformed to one of professional connection, empathy, balance, and transparency. Van Gorder
helps leaders understand that there is a credibility factor and that leaders manage down. You need to
know your audience and understand that the team matters.
Van Gorder spends time each day reviewing emails and responding to messages from not only board
members but also employees that report to him and other leaders. Van Gorder explains “Face time with
employees is something you need to do, not an option you might entertain. It is critical to the success of
any team, department, or organization” (Gorder, 2014). Spending the time not only getting to know his
employees at every level but to also consistently show that they matter makes all the difference in the
world. When an employee feels valued, they are more likely to perform at a higher caliber. There was a
parking attendant that Van Gorder and peers would call the “Thank You Man” as he would thank
everyone that crossed his path for something as small as smiling at him. When there were changes
within the company and roles were being downsized due to technological advances the Thank You Man
had concerns for his position. Van Gorder spent the time and collaborated internally with other leaders
to find a job with reception so he could still have the facetime he needed and desired. This is a perfect
example of how something so simple could make such a difference for his people.
One of the biggest areas for improvement and overall societal impact that Van Gorder touches on is that
“Many of us have felt neglected or unappreciated by our bosses; we’ve been at the bottom of the
pecking order and made to feel like our jobs don’t matter” (Gorder, 2014). Van Gorder was able to shift
that mentality with the environment that he cultivated at Scripps. His negative experience in his prior
C962 Current and Emerging Technology Critical Review
Western Governors University
The Information Age has pivoted the way of leaders, businesses, and organizations. There is now
the realization that to stay relevant in the industry the focus cannot solely be on products and services
, Current and Emerging Technology Critical Review 2
but rather, the focus must also include an organizations people, technology, and transformation. There
are three books that have been reviewed in the following texts that describe three current trends. The
Front-Line Leader by Chris Van Gorder will focus on the Emerging Organizational Leadership Trend.
Leading Change by John P. Kotter will focus on Emerging Principles and Processes and The Second
Machine Age by Eric Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee will cover the Emerging Technology Trend.
A. Summary of Societal Impact for Each Trend
Book 1: Leadership Trend- The Front-Line Leader
Chris Van Gorder uses this book to explain how he has been able to build an environment within Scripps
Health that not only is conducive to change but also employee retention. There are multiple sections
within the text where Van Gorder describes real life examples of how the company’s environment had
been transformed to one of professional connection, empathy, balance, and transparency. Van Gorder
helps leaders understand that there is a credibility factor and that leaders manage down. You need to
know your audience and understand that the team matters.
Van Gorder spends time each day reviewing emails and responding to messages from not only board
members but also employees that report to him and other leaders. Van Gorder explains “Face time with
employees is something you need to do, not an option you might entertain. It is critical to the success of
any team, department, or organization” (Gorder, 2014). Spending the time not only getting to know his
employees at every level but to also consistently show that they matter makes all the difference in the
world. When an employee feels valued, they are more likely to perform at a higher caliber. There was a
parking attendant that Van Gorder and peers would call the “Thank You Man” as he would thank
everyone that crossed his path for something as small as smiling at him. When there were changes
within the company and roles were being downsized due to technological advances the Thank You Man
had concerns for his position. Van Gorder spent the time and collaborated internally with other leaders
to find a job with reception so he could still have the facetime he needed and desired. This is a perfect
example of how something so simple could make such a difference for his people.
One of the biggest areas for improvement and overall societal impact that Van Gorder touches on is that
“Many of us have felt neglected or unappreciated by our bosses; we’ve been at the bottom of the
pecking order and made to feel like our jobs don’t matter” (Gorder, 2014). Van Gorder was able to shift
that mentality with the environment that he cultivated at Scripps. His negative experience in his prior
