WHY IS THERE SUCH A HIGH FAILURE RATE IN BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION TODAY?

The true number of business transformation project failure is underreported. Depending on which research you follow, the figure is between 70% – 80% of business transformation projects end in failure. There is five (5) main causes in business transformation failure are – lack of stakeholder involvement, lack of senior stakeholder support, changing requirement, incomplete requirements and poor planning.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH EXISTING APPROACHES?

Nothing. They are good at the purpose they were designed for, except they are now used for a different purpose, and that is not the original purpose they were designed for. Look at TOGAF® (The Open Group Architecture Framework) for example – it’s a framework for managing ‘technology’ or ‘technology changes’. It is not surprising, it was written by a “technology standards company”. They know and understand technology. What is happening is, TOGAF® is being used in business transformation projects that the ‘framework’ to manage the ‘transformation’, but it only focuses one thing – technology. It doesn’t focus on anything else other than Technology (it almost completely ignores, the other two (2) important aspects of the organisation – People, and Process(es)). It also ignores how to transition the business from the current state, to its desired future state. It effectively put the Technology stakeholders in the drivers set, to dictate to the Business what they think they want and literally throw it over the fence to the Business for them to work out if first it is fit for purpose, and then how to use and implement it.

HOW DOES HOBA® SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION TODAY?

HOBA® solves the 70% failure rate in business transformation problem by addressing the causes that problem in the first place – by putting the Business back into control, to take control back from Technology and into their own hands, using a structured process and framework that was developed WITH the Business, BY the Business, to be USED and OWNED by the Business, putting the control back into their own hands.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS AND HOW DOES HOBA® HELP?

The biggest problem with business transformation projects is firstly the name. “Business Transformation” is incorrectly called or referred to as “Digital Transformation”. ‘Digital Transformation’ is a misnomer, it is not ‘digital’ per se that is ‘transforming’, it is the ‘Business’ that is transforming, and how it does or is doing that in this period of time is via ‘digital technologies’ (if ‘technology’ isn’t already digital, what were they before?). What this intentional confusion in the marketplace is causing, is it causes is an incorrect bias and focus on the ‘technology aspect’ only of the transformation, which by doing so completely ignores the Business aspects – that’s the Business Operations Stakeholders and their concerns, and the Processes those stakeholders carry out. HOBA® helps by putting the Business back in to control, to be very clear and structured with what is the Vision, Strategy, Objectives and Measures, what stakeholders are involved and need to be involved in the transformation and their decision making authority, the process to manage those decisions, scope and risks; what are the problems they want to address or opportunities they want to take advantage of; what benefits they want to realise from the transformation and when; what the future or Target Operating Model (TOM) needs to look like to achieve their Vision and Strategic Objectives and business benefits, and how and when will the changes be implemented. Everything and nothing more, only doing what needs to be done, to transform the business, not doing what is happening in the marketplace today and that is ‘creating reams and reams of colourful models and diagrams, that while beautiful, are in reality just “interesting but (sadly) useless”.

WHAT IS THE DESIGN PROCESS?

The Design Process is the 6-Step process used to implement HOBA® and manage the transformation from the very start, to the very end, implementation.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION IN THE MARKETPLACE?

The biggest misconception in the marketplace today with business transformation is that Clients are led to believe that they need ‘reams and reams’ of pretty colourful presentations to transform your business. This is a fallacy. This only creates expensive shelf-ware. What those ‘pretty presentations’ are designed for is to enable the transformation project to keep moving toward its end goal, transforming the Business. What the Clients are led to believe is those ‘pretty presentations are the actual goal of the project, and often celebrated and hang up on the project office wall with great bravado as if they were the goal of the transformation itself! What those ‘pretty presentations’ actually need to be is two (2) things – first, is they need to be understandable, and written in a language that the Business understands, so first they can understand what it and they mean, and then they can agree to it. Then second, then they need to be useful. A lot of Consultants and Consultancy’s wanting to impress their clients with great marketing, pretty presentations and long list of impressive acronyms and latest “it” words, but this just confuses the Client. What happens is the Consultants will present their ‘ideas’ (because that’s what they are, they have had one meeting with the Client, interpreted that into their own words and perspectives, and come back to them several weeks and months later, having not consulted with them through the process, thinking ‘they know their Clients business best (they don’t, the Client does!) and play back their 300+ page power-point presentation that looks impressive), they present it to the Client, the Client has no idea what it means or says (its written in a foreign language, literally), due to the time it’s taken, and the money it has cost at that point, the Client agrees to it in the room, then walks out the room, and completely ignores everything the Consultant(s) said. The transformation goes nowhere. HOBA® solves that problem, refer to the first question above.

HOBA® is trusted by the UK Government, FTSE-100 companies and start-ups to both set up, and also turnaround their failing transformations. HOBA® is used by thousands around to transform their business, and was made public for the first time in late 2018, after over 10+ years in use with private clients, published in The Business Transformation Playbook – How to Implement Your Organisations Target Operating Model (TOM) and Achieve a Zero-Percent Failure Rate Using the 6-Step Agile Framework’, reaching bestseller on Amazon in 6-categories including Project Management and Consulting, and made it onto the Best Business Strategy eBook List of All Time by BookAuthority, at no.30 (March 2021). See News for details.

CAN I READ A PREVIEW OF THE BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION PLAYBOOK?

Yes, you can download a FREE preview to The Business Transformation Playbook here.

Is Digital Transformation the Future?

By Heath Gascoigne
November 27, 2023
Business Transformation, Design Process
Post Views: 1,286

Are you ready to unlock the power of digital transformation in the realm of business? This blog is your compass in navigating the exhilarating landscape of digital revolution tailored specifically for business transformations and dedicated consultants. Whether you’re a seasoned professional driving change within your organisation or a consultant guiding businesses towards innovative horizons, join us on this energetic and educational journey to understand why digital transformation isn’t just the future but the pulse of successful business evolution. Let’s delve into how embracing this revolution can redefine industries, drive growth, and revolutionise the way we do business!

Are you interested in being a Certified HOBA Business Architect? Accelerate your journey here.

Embracing the Digital Revolution

Imagine a world where everything is at your fingertips, where innovation isn’t just a word but a way of life, where convenience, efficiency, and interconnectedness are the norms. Welcome to the realm of digital transformation – an exhilarating journey reshaping our world and defining the future we’re stepping into.

What exactly is this buzzword, digital transformation? Well, it’s the magic wand that turns traditional business models, industries, and even our daily routines into hyper-connected, tech-savvy marvels. It’s about leveraging cutting-edge technologies to revamp processes, improve experiences, and drive unprecedented growth.

The Essence of Digital Transformation

At its core, digital transformation is a revolution fueled by innovation. Consider how the retail giant Amazon transformed the way we shop. From its inception as an online bookstore to its current status as an everything-store, Amazon didn’t just sell products; it revolutionised the entire shopping experience. With one-click purchasing, personalised recommendations, and lightning-fast deliveries, they set a new standard, showing the world the power of digital transformation.

See how digital transformation can enhance customer experience here.

Digital Transformation Across Industries

But it’s not just big corporations reaping the benefits. Take the healthcare industry, for instance. The integration of electronic health records (EHRs) and telemedicine has made healthcare more accessible and efficient than ever before. Patients can now consult doctors virtually, access their medical records with ease, and even monitor their health using wearable devices. Digital transformation here isn’t just about upgrading systems; it’s about saving lives and improving the quality of care.

Education, too, has undergone a profound digital makeover. The pandemic pushed schools and universities to embrace online learning, propelling the adoption of digital tools and platforms. Now, students from across the globe can access lectures, collaborate on projects, and earn degrees without ever setting foot on a physical campus. It’s a testament to how technology is democratising education, making it inclusive and flexible.

How is the digital economy handled in all these situations? Here’s how.

The Essence of Digital Transformation

Businesses that embrace digital transformation aren’t just surviving; they’re thriving. Consider the hospitality industry, which saw the emergence of platforms like Airbnb and Uber. These disruptors didn’t own hotels or fleets of cars, but they redefined the way we travel by leveraging digital platforms to connect people with available accommodations and rides. They created ecosystems that empowered individuals to monetise their assets and provided consumers with more options and personalised experiences.

Challenges and Responsibilities

But let’s not overlook the challenges. With great innovation comes great responsibility. Cybersecurity becomes paramount as more data gets digitised. Companies need to fortify their defenses against cyber threats to safeguard sensitive information. Moreover, there’s the issue of digital divide – ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or location, has access to the benefits of the digital era.

So, is digital transformation the future? Absolutely! It’s not just a trend; it’s a fundamental shift shaping every aspect of our lives. From the way we work and communicate to how we access services and entertain ourselves, the digital revolution is omnipresent.

The beauty of this transformation lies in its inclusivity. It’s not reserved for tech giants or Fortune 500 companies. Start-ups, small businesses, individuals – everyone has a seat at the digital table. All it takes is the willingness to embrace change, adapt, and harness the power of technology to drive innovation.

Conclusion

Digital transformation isn’t a distant future; it’s the here and now. It’s an exciting journey filled with endless possibilities and opportunities. So, let’s embrace it with open arms, learn, explore, and be part of this thrilling ride into the future!

Become a Master of Business Transformation

Learn about Business-led Business Transformation using the proven 6-step agile transformation framework trusted by the UK Government, FTSE-100 and fast growing companies

About HOBA Tech

If you liked what you read, learn more about Business Transformation and how to bring it to reality with less stress, less effort, less time, less cost, and higher profit. Learn about our award-winning agile Business Transformation framework, already used by thousands across the world to transform their business, including the UK Government, FTSE-100 Companies and start-ups, start your business transformation journey here.

If you want to read why others are calling The Business Transformation Playbook the “Business Transformation Bible”, read the Amazon reviews here.

Hope you find that useful. If you did, let me know in the comments below what you like and would like to see next, and share this with anyone you think would benefit from it!

Thank you for reading this!

Sincerely,

Heath Gascoigne

P.S. If you want to join our Business Transformator community of 2,000+ like-minded Business Transformators, join the community on the Business Transformator Facebook Group here.

P.P.S. If you want to learn more about business transformation, check out The Business Transformation Playbook.

Heath Gascoigne

Hi, I'm Heath, the founder of HOBA TECH and host of The Business Transformation Podcast. I help Business Transformation Consultants, Business Designers and Business Architects transform their and their clients' business and join the 30% club that succeed. Join me on this journey.

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Is Digital Transformation the Future?

Conclusion

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