BIG QUESTIONS
Part 1: Technology innovation
Question 1 = Explain the digital evolution. What are the different stages we went through
over the years?
Phase 0 = Developing the internet
- It was more like a strategic exercise during the war, rather then it was to help people connect.
Phase 1 = World Wide Web
- Connecting information and documents. The first web browser was born and it was the establish-
ment of big internet brands for example Wikipedia
- Characteristics: Finding information, Read only, Less or no interaction
Phase 2 = Social web and Mobile
- People were able to participate in the internet and contribute own content.
- Interaction with someone else
- Web revolution -> Conversation accelerator
- Effect on reading -> difference between older and younger generations
- Mobile technology -> Multi screen: you can have internet wherever and anytime you want.
Phase 3 = Smart Web
- Connection of knowledge/ data
- Semantic web = web where all information has been categorized and stored, so the computer can
understand it as good as a human being
- XR = Extended Reality: combination of real and virtual, for example Virtual reality glasses
- Examples: Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, etc.
Phase 4 = Hybrid
- Emotional web -> ET = measuring data in order to define emotions and then using these data as an
input for digital applications
- Hybrid = internet will disappear for example AR Glasses
Question 2 = We live in a perfect storm. Explain
We live in a technological tsunami. Digitalization is changing every day and we need to know how to
respond to it.
1) Climate change -> Need for change of global sustainability = Effect on innovation
2) There are various technological trends for example 5G internet, AI
3) At the end, it is all about people, people are the source of these changes. For example: Business
will only be successful if it’s adapted to the change + keeps in mind the customer obsession.
Few factors that created this perfect storm:
- Covid 19: Has a big impact on business and it causes increase of the prices.
- Supply chain crisis: Supply chain crisis, caused by the worldwide pandemic, caused extreme nation-
alism, this is likely to cause forms of deglobalization.
- Climate change: This causes more sustainability -> extreme weather. The links between climate
change and sustainable development are strong.
- Politics: Inequality for example racism, there is a big power of political influence.
1
,Question 3 = Explain the “both-end” digital attitude
On the one hand, you need to have a stable organization and technology needs to unburden the or-
ganization. On the other hand, you need to make sure you adopt the organisation for the changing
technologies, by implementing new innovations.
Finding the perfect balance between 3 elements
- People or organization: People don’t resist change, but they resist being changed
- Business: This is about the three value creation
1) Cost value (You can decrease the costs by digitalization)
2) Experience value (Nike: creating own shoe online)
3) Platform value (Air Bnb, Uber)
- Technology: Three capabilities of business agility
1) Hyper awareness
2) Informed decision-making processes → Looking at different perspectives to make a good decision.
3) Fast execution
Question 4 = Explain the statement “get your organization into the right digital flow”
Digital flow = Flow of never ending digitalization
You need to find the perfect balance between unburden organisation, stability, and digital innova-
tion. You can do this by looking at the 4 core IT activities: Operate, optimize, inspire and integrate
OPERATE AND OPTIMIZE: Unburden the organization → optimize current technologies you’re current
operating
INTEGRATE AND DESIRE: Doing new innovations to respond to the changing digitalization. You need
to integrate new improvements by inspiring the employees and giving them certain desire of change.
→ CONCLUSION: Create a mix of the 4 digital flow activities: inspire, optimize, integrate and operate.
Combine this mix of activities with the thinking level of strategic, tactical and operational. These ex-
ercises are a method to remain self-aware of all opportunities and to coach yourself to a healthy or-
ganization.
Question 5 = Explain the golden ratio of digital transformation
You can find the golden ratio everywhere (Art, nature, photography, ...) It is not about the leader
anymore, it is about “them”. Being a first follower: transformed into the leader.
It is the natural trinity of digital transformation: all connected to one another:
1) Strategy: Finding the balance between the 3 B’s → Behoefte, betalen, balans (Reason of the exist-
ing company)
2) People: In the end it’s the people who create the difference
3) Technology: This is about finetuning your process (iterative process) and looking at different per-
spectives (Never assume, always check
You need to be sure you combine all three of them!
Example: Point of strategy = You also need people to take care of the strategy and technology to im-
plement it.
2
, Question 6 = What are the 8 axioms of “technology is the new math”
1. Digital transformation includes different parties → Never assume always check
2. Technology needs to unburden an organization and needs to create stability, but technology also
needs to help the organization to change through innovation. For example: Balancing short term
and long term goals
3. Organization unburdening and digital innovation are very important for an organization, but im-
plementation of digital new applications is as important.
4. Ask the right questions, and understand the consequences of you decisions made.
5. There are different levels of success. Added value is only created after exponential repetition of
success
6. There is a golden standard between the overall project and functional requirements (sales), but
also between the functional and non-functional requirements (trainings people)
7. Speed is a given in the digital number: You can be speed, cheap and good, but not all three of
them.
8. Agile leadership, and agile management are the new kind of leadership needed to be successful in
digital transformation: Able to move quickly and easily.
Question 7 = Explain the Master Plan of digital transformation.
The master plan includes 8 elements:
1. Dream (Awareness and vision)
2. Imagine
3. Explore (Technological workshops)
4. Create (Balance is not something you find but create )
5. Learn
6. Live
7. Achieve (KPI’s, performance)
8. Inspire
→ A company needs to do all these elements parallel it is not a linear process
Question 8 = Explain why strategy, people, and technology are a natural trinity.
Successful digital transformation is more than just digitalization. You need to create the right balance
between technology innovation (technology), customer obsession (people) and organization readi-
ness (strategy). Only when you can innovate and be customer obsesses, you are able to survive
through the VUCA World.
- When you think about strategy: think automatically about people and technology
You will not be successful is there is no connection between these 3
Strategy → You need the strategy to make sure people are satisfied
People → Without the people there is no strategy that can be resulted.
Technology → You need the technology to improve the people experience.
Question 9 = How can technology help in the shift from the old to the new way of work-
ing? What is meant with “we need to reinvest business productivity” ?
Three big areas
1: Collective value creation & dynamic networks → made for teams & networks
2: Accessible data & intelligent systems → personal and organisation insights
3: Security in the board room → people centric security
3
Part 1: Technology innovation
Question 1 = Explain the digital evolution. What are the different stages we went through
over the years?
Phase 0 = Developing the internet
- It was more like a strategic exercise during the war, rather then it was to help people connect.
Phase 1 = World Wide Web
- Connecting information and documents. The first web browser was born and it was the establish-
ment of big internet brands for example Wikipedia
- Characteristics: Finding information, Read only, Less or no interaction
Phase 2 = Social web and Mobile
- People were able to participate in the internet and contribute own content.
- Interaction with someone else
- Web revolution -> Conversation accelerator
- Effect on reading -> difference between older and younger generations
- Mobile technology -> Multi screen: you can have internet wherever and anytime you want.
Phase 3 = Smart Web
- Connection of knowledge/ data
- Semantic web = web where all information has been categorized and stored, so the computer can
understand it as good as a human being
- XR = Extended Reality: combination of real and virtual, for example Virtual reality glasses
- Examples: Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, etc.
Phase 4 = Hybrid
- Emotional web -> ET = measuring data in order to define emotions and then using these data as an
input for digital applications
- Hybrid = internet will disappear for example AR Glasses
Question 2 = We live in a perfect storm. Explain
We live in a technological tsunami. Digitalization is changing every day and we need to know how to
respond to it.
1) Climate change -> Need for change of global sustainability = Effect on innovation
2) There are various technological trends for example 5G internet, AI
3) At the end, it is all about people, people are the source of these changes. For example: Business
will only be successful if it’s adapted to the change + keeps in mind the customer obsession.
Few factors that created this perfect storm:
- Covid 19: Has a big impact on business and it causes increase of the prices.
- Supply chain crisis: Supply chain crisis, caused by the worldwide pandemic, caused extreme nation-
alism, this is likely to cause forms of deglobalization.
- Climate change: This causes more sustainability -> extreme weather. The links between climate
change and sustainable development are strong.
- Politics: Inequality for example racism, there is a big power of political influence.
1
,Question 3 = Explain the “both-end” digital attitude
On the one hand, you need to have a stable organization and technology needs to unburden the or-
ganization. On the other hand, you need to make sure you adopt the organisation for the changing
technologies, by implementing new innovations.
Finding the perfect balance between 3 elements
- People or organization: People don’t resist change, but they resist being changed
- Business: This is about the three value creation
1) Cost value (You can decrease the costs by digitalization)
2) Experience value (Nike: creating own shoe online)
3) Platform value (Air Bnb, Uber)
- Technology: Three capabilities of business agility
1) Hyper awareness
2) Informed decision-making processes → Looking at different perspectives to make a good decision.
3) Fast execution
Question 4 = Explain the statement “get your organization into the right digital flow”
Digital flow = Flow of never ending digitalization
You need to find the perfect balance between unburden organisation, stability, and digital innova-
tion. You can do this by looking at the 4 core IT activities: Operate, optimize, inspire and integrate
OPERATE AND OPTIMIZE: Unburden the organization → optimize current technologies you’re current
operating
INTEGRATE AND DESIRE: Doing new innovations to respond to the changing digitalization. You need
to integrate new improvements by inspiring the employees and giving them certain desire of change.
→ CONCLUSION: Create a mix of the 4 digital flow activities: inspire, optimize, integrate and operate.
Combine this mix of activities with the thinking level of strategic, tactical and operational. These ex-
ercises are a method to remain self-aware of all opportunities and to coach yourself to a healthy or-
ganization.
Question 5 = Explain the golden ratio of digital transformation
You can find the golden ratio everywhere (Art, nature, photography, ...) It is not about the leader
anymore, it is about “them”. Being a first follower: transformed into the leader.
It is the natural trinity of digital transformation: all connected to one another:
1) Strategy: Finding the balance between the 3 B’s → Behoefte, betalen, balans (Reason of the exist-
ing company)
2) People: In the end it’s the people who create the difference
3) Technology: This is about finetuning your process (iterative process) and looking at different per-
spectives (Never assume, always check
You need to be sure you combine all three of them!
Example: Point of strategy = You also need people to take care of the strategy and technology to im-
plement it.
2
, Question 6 = What are the 8 axioms of “technology is the new math”
1. Digital transformation includes different parties → Never assume always check
2. Technology needs to unburden an organization and needs to create stability, but technology also
needs to help the organization to change through innovation. For example: Balancing short term
and long term goals
3. Organization unburdening and digital innovation are very important for an organization, but im-
plementation of digital new applications is as important.
4. Ask the right questions, and understand the consequences of you decisions made.
5. There are different levels of success. Added value is only created after exponential repetition of
success
6. There is a golden standard between the overall project and functional requirements (sales), but
also between the functional and non-functional requirements (trainings people)
7. Speed is a given in the digital number: You can be speed, cheap and good, but not all three of
them.
8. Agile leadership, and agile management are the new kind of leadership needed to be successful in
digital transformation: Able to move quickly and easily.
Question 7 = Explain the Master Plan of digital transformation.
The master plan includes 8 elements:
1. Dream (Awareness and vision)
2. Imagine
3. Explore (Technological workshops)
4. Create (Balance is not something you find but create )
5. Learn
6. Live
7. Achieve (KPI’s, performance)
8. Inspire
→ A company needs to do all these elements parallel it is not a linear process
Question 8 = Explain why strategy, people, and technology are a natural trinity.
Successful digital transformation is more than just digitalization. You need to create the right balance
between technology innovation (technology), customer obsession (people) and organization readi-
ness (strategy). Only when you can innovate and be customer obsesses, you are able to survive
through the VUCA World.
- When you think about strategy: think automatically about people and technology
You will not be successful is there is no connection between these 3
Strategy → You need the strategy to make sure people are satisfied
People → Without the people there is no strategy that can be resulted.
Technology → You need the technology to improve the people experience.
Question 9 = How can technology help in the shift from the old to the new way of work-
ing? What is meant with “we need to reinvest business productivity” ?
Three big areas
1: Collective value creation & dynamic networks → made for teams & networks
2: Accessible data & intelligent systems → personal and organisation insights
3: Security in the board room → people centric security
3
