Blog
Articles and Blogposts
Publications about digital future, digital disruption, digital business development, digital leadership, digital business innovation and transformation.
Rowdy Bijland | November 23, 2023 |
Startups versus Enterprises: Who Navigates Digital Disruption Better?
In the dynamic landscape of the digital age, the ability to adapt to rapid technological changes is crucial for survival and success. As digital disruption reshapes industries, both startups and established enterprises find themselves navigating uncharted waters. However, their approaches differ significantly, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are some fundamental comparisons.
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Rowdy Bijland | August 24, 2024 |
The 6 D's of Digital Disruption: A Roadmap for Digital Business Development
Digital disruption has become a defining power in the modern business landscape, reshaping industries, creating new opportunities, and challenging established norms. To navigate this dynamic environment, business leaders should understand the 6 D's of digital disruption - an essential framework that outlines the stages of digital innovation and its transformative potential. This article explores the 6 D's, provides real-world examples, and offers guidance on how leaders can use this framework as a roadmap for digital business development that protects from digital disruption and unlocks exponential growth.
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Rowdy Bijland | September 27, 2024 |
Finding The Balance Between Risk and Reward in Digital Ventures and Digital Business Transformations, A Strategic Phased Approach
Today, businesses face a constant push to innovate and transform. Digital ventures and digital business transformation initiatives hold the promise of significant rewards, such as market leadership, competitive advantage, and new revenue streams. However, these opportunities come with inherent risks, especially when investments are made without a clear understanding of the potential return. The key to success lies in strategically balancing risk and reward throughout the development process, from initial problem-solution fit to scaling the business.
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Rowdy Bijland | October 28, 2024 |
Failing Forward: Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stones for Success
Failure is a word many leaders and organizations dread, but in today’s fast-paced world, failure can be an invaluable teacher. “Failing forward” is the philosophy of learning from setbacks and using them as stepping stones to future success. Instead of viewing failure as a roadblock, failing forward allows leaders to reframe it as an opportunity to grow, improve, and adapt. This concept has become increasingly important as businesses seek to innovate and adapt to changing market conditions. By embracing the idea of failing forward, leaders can foster resilience and agility within their teams, ultimately positioning their organizations for long-term success.
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Rowdy Bijland | November 24, 2024 |
Reinventing Leadership in the Digital Age: Empowering Others to Shape the Future
The digital age has brought profound changes to every corner of society, reshaping how businesses operate, how decisions are made, and how value is created. At the heart of this transformation lies the reinvention of leadership. No longer confined to hierarchical structures and command-and-control styles, leadership in the digital age demands agility, collaboration, and an unwavering focus on innovation. This article delves into the evolution of leadership roles, the key capabilities needed to succeed, lessons from real-world leaders, and actionable steps to develop these capabilities.
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Rowdy Bijland | December 31, 2024 |
Shaping Tomorrow: How Digital Disruption is Redefining Our World
The relentless march of digital transformation is more than a technological trend, it’s a seismic force reshaping industries, economies, and everyday life. At the intersection of cutting-edge innovation and evolving human priorities, the world stands at a tipping point. For individuals and organizations alike, this era demands not only adaptation but proactive engagement with the waves of digital disruption reshaping our future.
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Rowdy Bijland | January 31, 2025 |
Building Digital Talent for a Future-Ready Organization: Strategies for Talent Acquisition and Development
In a world increasingly driven by digital technologies, organizations must prioritize digital talent acquisition and development to stay competitive. Digital talent, individuals with expertise in areas like data science, artificial intelligence, software development, and digital marketing, are essential to innovation and growth in today’s business landscape. Yet, acquiring and retaining this talent is challenging, as demand often outpaces supply. To succeed, organizations need a robust strategy for attracting digital expertise from outside and developing skills internally. This article explores real-world examples of how companies have addressed these challenges and provides actionable strategies for leaders to foster a future-ready digital workforce.
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Rowdy Bijland | February 23, 2025 |
Make, Buy, or Ally: Strategic Decisions for Collaboration and Partnerships
In the fast-paced world of digital business development, the "make, buy, or ally" decision is a pivotal one. This decision refers to the choice a company faces when determining how to obtain new capabilities, technologies, or expertise to fuel growth. Should they build the solution internally (make), purchase it from an external source (buy), or collaborate with other organizations (ally)? Each approach has significant implications for business strategy and requires careful consideration of people, process, technology, and finance. Let’s explore these factors and how they align within the broader digital business development process.
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Rowdy Bijland | March 29, 2025 |
Navigating the Challenges of Digital Transformation: Strategies for Success
Digital transformation has become imperative for companies aiming to stay competitive and relevant. However, despite the recognized benefits of embracing digital technologies, many organizations struggle to navigate the complexities of this journey. The high failure rate of digital transformations within companies can be attributed to various challenges that leaders often face during the process. In this article, we'll delve into these challenges and provide recommendations on how leaders can overcome them to achieve successful digital transformation.
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Rowdy Bijland | April 26, 2025 |
The Innovation Dilemma: A Balancing Act Every Leader Faces
The innovation dilemma is a balancing act every leader faces: should a company stick to what works or venture into new, often uncertain, territory to innovate? Established companies often grapple with this question because, while their traditional offerings drive current profits, new solutions or technologies might open doors to future growth. However, innovation also brings risks that can disrupt a business’s existing structure and even threaten its survival. Leaders often find themselves at a crossroads, wondering how much innovation is enough—and when it might be too much.
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Rowdy Bijland | May 31, 2025 |
Frugal Innovation: Combining Innovation with Sustainability for Maximum Impact
In an era defined by resource constraints and rising global challenges, frugal innovation has emerged as a transformative approach to problem-solving. Often referred to as "Jugaad" in India, or "ingenious improvisation," frugal innovation emphasizes creating more value while using fewer resources. It is particularly relevant in today’s world, where the demand for sustainable and inclusive solutions is at an all-time high. This article explores the concept of frugal innovation, its benefits, its alignment with sustainability goals, practical deployment strategies, real-world examples, and how leaders can harness its potential for growth and impact.
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Rowdy Bijland | June 29, 2025 |
Managing Uncertainty in the Digital Age: Make Decisions amid Ambiguity
In a world where digital transformation is accelerating disruption, leaders are constantly challenged to make decisions amid ambiguity. One powerful yet often overlooked tool for navigating uncertainty is the Rumsfeld Matrix. Originally made famous by former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in a 2002 press briefing, the concept offers a simple yet profound framework to understand the types of knowledge (and lack thereof) that influence decision-making. For business leaders, founders, executives, and investors operating in the digital era, mastering this matrix can provide clarity in complex environments.
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Rowdy Bijland | March 12, 2024 |
Leading Teams in Digital Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Cultivating a Growth Mindset
In the rapid evolution of digital business innovation and entrepreneurship, the mindset of the teams at the helm becomes a critical determinant of success versus stagnation. At the heart of this lies the concept of a growth mindset, pioneered by psychologist Carol Dweck, which has emerged as a cornerstone in fostering resilience, adaptability, and innovation within organizations.
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Rowdy Bijland | April 15, 2024 |
Beyond Targets: Nurturing Purpose, Trust, and Compassion for Organizational Excellence in the Digital Age
In the modern organization, success isn't just about hitting targets and achieving goals; it's also about fostering healthy relationships, promoting collaboration, and navigating change effectively. At the heart of these endeavours lie three essential elements: purpose, trust, and compassion. These cornerstones not only define the culture of an organization but also drive its success in building strong working relationships, fostering team collaboration, and facilitating organizational change in the digital age.
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Rowdy Bijland | May 14, 2024 |
Disruptive Digital Technologies: Opportunities and Challenges for Leaders
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, the Metaverse, and virtual reality (VR) are not just transforming traditional industries but also creating unprecedented opportunities for digital business growth. These disruptive digital technologies are redefining business models, reshaping consumer experiences, and challenging leaders to innovate continuously. This article explores how some of these technologies are disrupting traditional sectors and provides an overarching approach for leaders to navigate the opportunities and challenges they present.
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Rowdy Bijland | June 24, 2024 |
The Alchemy of Digital Business Growth: Strategic Planning through the Innovation Ambition Matrix
Businesses must constantly evolve to stay relevant and competitive in today's fast-paced digital world. This evolution can be orchestrated effectively through strategic planning using the Innovation Ambition Matrix, described in the book “Alchemy of Growth” by M. Bahgai, S. Coley and D. White in 1999. This framework divides growth opportunities into three horizons: Horizon 1, focusing on the core business, products, and services that currently drive profits and cash flow; Horizon 2, targeting emerging opportunities expected to generate sustainable income in the near future; and Horizon 3, concentrating on disruptive ideas poised to transform the business and boost profits in the long term. Understanding the unique risk profiles, value, and time factors associated with each horizon is crucial for successful deployment.
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Rowdy Bijland | January 25, 2024 |
The Power of Leaders in Digital Business to bring Positive Change to the World: A Common Purpose
In the dynamic landscape of the digital age, leaders in digital business are positioned as powerful agents of positive change. Through their visionary thinking, innovative strategies, and commitment to driving sustainable business value, they have the unique ability to create meaningful impact for both people and the planet. Digital business leaders possess the power to bring about positive change and leave a legacy of purpose through various disruptive and transformative initiatives.
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Rowdy Bijland | December 23, 2023 |
The Psychology of Digital Disruption: How Consumer Behavior Drives Innovation
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital disruption, understanding the psychology behind consumer behavior is paramount. The adoption of new digital technologies is not just a matter of convenience; it is deeply rooted in the psychological processes that govern how individuals and businesses perceive, accept, and integrate innovation into their lives.
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Rowdy Bijland | January 05, 2024 |
How CEO's can Overcome Challenges in Leading Digital Business Transformation
In the dynamic landscape of modern business, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) play a pivotal role in steering their organizations through the complex terrain of digital transformation. Developing effective digital business strategies, driving innovation, and executing transformations present CEOs with a myriad of challenges. This article explores the hurdles CEOs commonly face in these areas and outlines strategies for overcoming the barriers and anchors that may impede progress.
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Rowdy Bijland | February 29, 2024 |
The Human Touch: Unlocking Successful Digital Business Development, Innovation and Transformation
In the fast-paced world of digital business development, innovation and transformation, where technology reigns supreme, it's easy to overlook the most critical component of any successful endeavor: people. From leadership to employees, customers, and business partners, it's the human factor that ultimately determines the success or failure of digital business initiatives. Let's explore why putting people at the forefront is the secret to unlocking successful digital business transformation, with examples illustrating its importance across various stakeholders.
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