Why a ‘doing’ approach to Digital Maturity makes sense.
Digital Thinking - Problem Solving workshop for a Global FMCG. Using Lego Serious Play (LSP) to help facilitate a hands-on experience and build collaboration and creative thinking.
Digital maturity is essential for businesses to stay competitive in today's rapidly changing landscape. However, many organisations struggle to achieve their digital transformation goals due to a lack of hands-on experience, insufficient understanding of organisational culture, and inadequate change management. This post discusses the importance of a ‘doing’ approach to digital maturity and explores how Fiora's hands-on methodology, which emphasises real-world experience and cultural change management, can help organisations successfully navigate their digital transformation journey.
With a shocking 70% of initiatives falling short of their goals, it's clear that digital transformation is hard. It presents a range of challenges for organisations across industries. These challenges often stem from a variety of sources, including technology, culture, strategy, and execution. In this section, we will delve into some of the most common obstacles organisations face as they embark on their digital transformation journey.
Technological complexity Digital transformation requires the adoption and integration of various technologies, such as cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Navigating the complex landscape of technological options can be daunting, and organisations must carefully select and implement the solutions that best align with their objectives and capabilities.
Organisational culture resistance Resistance to change is a natural human tendency, and digital transformation often entails significant changes to established processes, workflows, and roles. Overcoming resistance from employees and fostering a culture that embraces change is crucial for successful digital transformation.
Lack of digital skills and expertise Digital transformation often necessitates the development of new skills and expertise within an organisation. Building a workforce with the necessary digital competencies can be challenging, particularly given the global shortage of digital talent.
Misaligned goals and strategies Digital transformation should be driven by clear strategic objectives and goals. However, organisations often struggle to align their digital initiatives with broader business strategies, resulting in fragmented efforts and suboptimal results.
Insufficient budget and resources Digital transformation often requires significant investment in technology, talent, and training. Organisations may struggle to secure the necessary budget and resources to execute their digital transformation initiatives effectively.
Inadequate change management Effective change management is vital for ensuring a smooth transition through the various stages of digital transformation. However, many organisations underestimate the importance of change management or lack the expertise to manage the process effectively.
The challenges of digital transformation demand a more practical and hands-on approach to achieving digital maturity. A doing approach offers several key advantages over traditional, theory-focused methodologies, enabling organisations to effectively navigate the complexities of digital transformation and achieve their desired outcomes. In this section, we will explore the reasons behind the need for a doing approach in the context of digital transformation.
Overcoming resistance to change A doing approach directly addresses organisational culture resistance by actively involving employees in the transformation process. Through collaborative problem-solving, hands-on training, and experiential learning, employees can better understand the rationale behind digital transformation initiatives and develop a sense of ownership, reducing resistance to change and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Building digital competencies A doing approach places emphasis on developing the practical skills and expertise necessary for successful digital transformation. By providing hands-on training and guidance, organisations can effectively build their workforce's digital competencies and bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Aligning goals and strategies The doing approach focuses on aligning digital transformation efforts with broader organisational objectives and goals. By fostering close collaboration between stakeholders, teams can develop a shared understanding of the desired outcomes and work together to execute initiatives that directly contribute to the organisation's strategic objectives.
Maximising resource efficiency A doing approach emphasises the efficient use of resources in digital transformation initiatives. By adopting agile methodologies, organisations can iterate quickly, learn from mistakes, and pivot as needed, ultimately optimising the use of budget and resources throughout the transformation journey.
Enhancing change management The doing approach recognises the critical importance of change management in the digital transformation process. By providing hands-on support and guidance, organisations can effectively navigate the complexities of change and ensure a smooth transition through each stage of digital maturity.
Fiora's hands-on methodology embraces the doing approach, focusing on practical solutions and real-world experience to help organisations overcome the challenges of digital transformation. This methodology consists of four key components that work together to ensure success throughout the digital maturity journey.
Collaborative Problem-Solving Fiora's methodology emphasises collaboration between its experts and the client's internal teams. By working together to identify issues, develop solutions, and make decisions, this collaborative approach fosters a sense of shared ownership and commitment to the digital transformation process. It also helps to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, ensuring that initiatives are aligned with organisational objectives.
Comprehensive Assessment of Organisational Needs To develop a tailored digital transformation strategy, Fiora conducts a thorough assessment of an organisation's current digital maturity across multiple dimensions, such as technology, processes, culture, and people. This comprehensive evaluation helps to identify the areas in need of improvement and enables Fiora to develop customised solutions that address the organisation's specific needs, challenges, and goals.
Agile Implementation and Iteration Fiora's methodology adopts agile principles, emphasizing flexibility, adaptability, and continuous learning. This approach allows organizations to implement digital transformation initiatives incrementally, adjusting and refining strategies based on feedback and real-world experience. By adopting an agile mindset, organisations can respond more effectively to changes in the market or technology landscape and capitalize on new opportunities as they arise.
Empowering Internal Teams for Sustained Success A crucial aspect of Fiora's methodology is the focus on empowering internal teams to drive and sustain digital transformation efforts. Fiora provides hands-on training, coaching, and support, ensuring that employees develop the necessary skills and expertise to lead and manage digital initiatives. By building internal capabilities, organisations can maintain momentum and continue to adapt and innovate in response to evolving market conditions, ensuring long-term success in their digital maturity journey.
The doing approach to digital transformation has emerged as a critical factor in overcoming the challenges and pitfalls that organisations face in their journey toward digital maturity. By focusing on practical solutions, real-world experience, and hands-on execution, the doing approach ensures that businesses are better prepared to navigate the challenges of digital transformation and achieve lasting success.
By employing these components in its hands-on methodology, Fiora has successfully helped global businesses navigate these challenges. This practical approach fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within organisations, enabling them to effectively address the challenges of digital maturity. As a result, businesses are better equipped to achieve lasting success in an increasingly competitive digital landscape, further emphasising the importance of the doing approach in digital transformation initiatives.