204. Redefining Business in the Digital Age with David Rogers

Digital transformation is a term often tossed around in boardrooms but rarely understood in its full depth and breadth. David Rogers joins us on this episode of The Innovation Engine podcast to discuss his latest book, The Digital Transformation Roadmap, and his vast experience advising a bevy of top-tier corporate clients including Google, Microsoft, Citigroup, and Toyota. A renowned faculty member at Columbia Business School, expert in digital transformation, and the brain behind several groundbreaking books on the subject, David is the perfect voice of reason to bring a logical understanding to this vital concept. David underscores the significant differences between a digital-first startup and a legacy enterprise attempting to make its products and services viable in the digital realm. He emphasizes that digital transformation is not a short-term project, but a continuous journey intertwined with both digital strategy and sweeping organizational change. In David's latest book, The Digital Transformation Roadmap, he outlines the Five Steps for Digital Transformation: Define a Shared Vision: This involves crafting a vision unique to the organization. It should be more specific than just wanting to "go digital" and should be commonly understood by everyone in the company. Pick the Problems that Matter Most: Prioritize key issues and be willing to say no to less important opportunities. Validating New Ventures: Shift from traditional planning-focused models to iterative processes that allow for continuous learning and adaptation. Managing Growth at Scale: Adopt different management or governance models that can work across multiple teams and cater to different strategic opportunities. Growing Technology, Talent, and Culture: Identify gaps in technology infrastructure, talent, and company culture, and address these. The process is cyclical, not linear, and the steps should be revisited regularly for continuous adaptation and improvement. Tune in for an insightful journey into the heart of digital transformation with one of the foremost thought leaders in the field. Don't miss David's deep insights, actionable strategies, and a fresh perspective on a topic that's reshaping the global business landscape. Resources: Learn more at davidrogers.digital Read "The Digital Transformation Roadmap" by David Rogers Connect with David Rogers on LinkedIn Read "Marketing Myopia" by Theodore Levitt Produced by NOVA Media