"Evolution" versus "Revolution"

Written by Jonny Baber on 24 Oct, 2023

In our recent blog on the hidden dangers of digital transformation, we touched on the importance of being very clear on objectives so that the transformation agenda can be driven with clarity and have a real sense of purpose.

However, many organisations don’t stop to consider the most effective way of delivering their transformation. Every transformation is unique in terms of the urgency, complexity, activities, size or cultural shifts required, but it is still important to consider whether the desired change can actually be achieved through evolutionary continuous improvement – rather than what is more often than not, a very disruptive revolutionary approach.

When stripped back, many transformation programmes are nothing more than an acceleration and combination of existing continuous improvement initiatives, with a “digital” label loosely attached to what is really just an ongoing change process. In a worst-case scenario, this misrepresentation can lead to senior leaders throwing the digital baby out with the bathwater by getting rid of the good stuff that was already working well, rather than using that as a solid foundation to build and improve upon.

Of course, some transformational aims can only ever be achieved through significant organisational, cultural and technical upheaval, which might lean towards more revolutionary approaches. However, before embarking on a revolutionary approach as the default answer to achieving transformational targets - ask yourself if a series of far less disruptive evolutionary changes could actually deliver similar results, and you may well be surprised by just how much can be achieved with a lot less disruption.

Missed part one?

Catch up here.

Let’s connect