How To Build A Digital Culture Into Any Organisation
In this guest post, Melbourne tech writer Anthony Caruana takes a look at a new Brisbane housing development and says there’s valuable lessons for anyone wanting to improve the digital culture in their business…
Business models have always been subject to disruption. It’s an issue chief digital officers like Springfield Land Corporation (as massive new city development just outside of Brisbane) Paul Wyatt understand in their DNA. The industrial revolution was caused when large weaving machines displaced factory workers. The horseshoe business fell apart when cars became common and the car industry was disrupted when automation took over the factories.
Today, it’s the likes of Tesla, Uber and Apple that have changed the nature of the products and services we rely on every day.
There will always be disruption in business. What’s changed is the pace of disruption today. And that’s driven by the connectedness of our world and the digitisation of systems.
Wyatt is tasked with enabling all information technology and communications projects so that Springfield can become one of Australia’s first digital cities.
The role of the chief digital officer (CDO) is a relatively new one in the C-Suite. We asked Wyatt where the role started and what it’s evolving into.
“The role of a CDO started out managing all information relating to and supporting economic development for customers — consumers or businesses. The role still focuses on economic development but I believe CDOs need to focus on data analytics and exposing this data to business, start-ups, R&D and government to make faster decisions for consumers and business.”
The dependence on digital can be a challenge for many companies, particularly those whose older business models have delivered reliable profits for many years. So how do you build a “digital culture” and what do you look for in a team to support that culture?
“I look for lateral thinkers who have global experience in commerce. I also look for a mix of experience in my team, meaning these qualities are mandatory but I also look for some experience in how Gen Ys operate. Everyone needs a sharing attitude with a commercial outcome for all.”
Having a great team isn’t enough. In order for digitisation to succeed in a business there need to be short, medium and long terms goals. We asked Wyatt what the key steps are in choosing and building a strategy for digitisation.
“Like any strategy, you need to know what your goals are before starting. These goal don’t need to be long-winded, just achievable in a short period of time — otherwise the needs to meet the goal will change. The strategies that succeed actually start doing something. The ones that don’t procrastinate, and are scared to fail.”
With a strategy in place, it should be easy to prioritise incoming tasks and requests. But human nature dictates that each person in the business feels their needs are the most important. What’s needed for the CDO to prioritise the requests coming from the CEO, CIO, CFO and CMO?
“The company should always have one overarching priority, and the CDO should support the company’s priority,” says Wyatt.
When we survey the business world, we can see companies that have reacted well to disruption. For example, one of the oldest companies in the world — General Electric — has embraced a number of digital technologies, with a strong presence in industrial systems and energy. Apple completely disrupted the communications market when it introduced the iPhone, redefining both the mobile phone market and changing the way phone makers interacted with telecommunications providers.
But not every industry has embraced the new opportunities digital disruption has raced to into this brave, new world.
“I believe the health industry is ripe for disruption,” says Wyatt.
Recent incidents, such as the widespread outbreak of ransomware incidents affecting hospitals in the United States and Australia, highlight the use of older systems and a heavy reliance on manual processes. Those institutions were crippled as their systems were scarcely different to paper-based systems.
This article originally appeared on B&T’s sister business site www.which-50.com
Latest News
The Mars Agency Announces Latest Findings Of Retail Media Report Card
The Mars Agency has developed a scorecard that assesses the capabilities of leading platforms across key criteria required to optimally plan, execute, and measure effective retail media programs. The scorecard aims To help brands efficiently evaluate their spending options across retail media networks in Australia (and New Zealand). With spending on retail media advertising in […]
‘It’s The Lesser Of Two Evils’ – NRL Eyes US Betting Market As Aussie Regulators Circle
US betting firms will be delighted by the circa 50,000 Americans who could soon watch the NRL on their favourite app.
A-League In Deep Discussions With New Partner To Keep Games On TV After Production Company Enters Administration
The A-League's insatiable appetite for scoring own goals continues.
TV Ratings (27/03/2024): Jungle Members At War Over Concealed Lipstick
A heated argument between two jungle members did the numbers for Ten last night, with I’m A Celeb obtaining a total national reach of 1,282,000. Fans were delighted as Candice Warner and influencer Skye Wheatley got into it over a stick of lipstick, leading Warner to dub the Instagram star “selfish.” Wheatley, best known for […]
Is The Australian Music Industry In Trouble? Inquiry Launched Following Splendour Cancellation
Earlier this week, an inquiry was launched into the challenges and opportunities currently facing the Australian live music industry in the wake of multiple festival cancellations. On 25 March 2024, the Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, asked the Committee on Communications and the Arts to inquire into and report on the […]
Liana Dubois, Leandro Perez, Aimee Buchanan & More Gather For Inaugural Compadres Leadership Event
Didn't get the invite? Perhaps you're not as important as you thought.
Cathay Captures The Unforgettable Thrill Of Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, Via Publicis
Nobody does rugby like Hong Kong, apparently. Certainly nobody does it as badly as Australia.
Cocogun Nabs Christine Watts, Kirsty Reynolds & Shev Tan Bolstering Management & Creative Teams
Cocogun bolsters its team with new hires. Committed to purchasing a bigger sofa, too.
The Media Store’s Jacquie Alley & Sam Cousins Take The Plunge With Pro-Bono Work For Cure Cancer
B&T chats with The Media Store bosses about their great pro-bono work and sponsored swim.
Hawke’s Brewing Co. Taps Rocket Comms For PR Agency Following Competitive Pitch
We're expecting Rocket Comms productivity to crash in spectacular fashion following this win.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Patties Serves Up A Taste Of Home For Olympians & South Sydney Rabbitohs Recommit To Gambling Reform
While the Rabbitohs commits to gambling reform, B&T reckons the team should commit to a decent auto sponsor.
Google: “Inevitable” That Bad Actors Will Abuse Ads Platform As Advertiser Account Suspensions Double
Google maintains it's simply impossible for it to entirely stop bad people placing & paying for ads using its service.
Quantcast Expands APAC Sales Team With Appointment Of News Corp Account Manager
No pressure at all when you are appointed as a client success manager.
Publicis Sapient Tests Microsoft-Powered Gen AI Search Tool With Homes & Villas By Marriott Bonvoy
Given Gen AI's record for mangling stuff, B&T cannot see the problem with letting it decide your next holiday digs.
Volkswagen & DDB Group’s “Roo Badge” To Reduce Kangaroo Related Road Collisions
Watch out for RooBadge as Cannes Lions' most debated campaign this year.
Twilio Launches Unified Profiles & Agent Copilot Features To Boost Productivity & Engagement
Agent Copilot sounds like James Bond's less interesting cousin.
Reebok & Honda Among New Clients For onetwo agency
OneTwo finally lives up to its name with this double billing.
Ogilvy Report: Throw Out The Social Strategy Rule Book, The Rules Of The Past No Longer Apply
B&T was puzzled that all 'influencers' aren't, effectively, 'virtual', but here we are.
WhiteGREY & AKQA Merge In Australia, Lee Simpson Departs
Fortunately, the combined agencies aren't opting for a trite portmanteau for the new name.
Splendour In The Grass 2024 Music Festival Cancelled!
Music fans all over the country reportedly relieved they can pack away their rain coats and gumboots for another year.
TV Ratings (26/03/2024): “Fairy Bread, F***ing Disgusting”: Gordon Ramsay Slams Aussie Food In Food Stars Launch
Ramsay not one for mincing his words, even when it comes to minced meat pies.
Paramount+ International Boss Doubles Down On Aussie Content, Says Ad-Tier will Grow Audiences And Revenue
Good news as Paramount will not be binning I’m A Celebrity for re-runs of Frasier.
Brent Smart: Telstra Pushing For 50-50 Brand-Performance Split But Warns Numbers ‘Won’t Look Great’ Initially
The old brand vs performance debate continues. But here, Brent is firmly sitting on the fence.
Crowded House, Tones And I & Dom Dolla Win Big At The Shure Rolling Stone Music Awards
B&T staffer reports back with humdinger of a hangover & feeling seriously uncool after mixing with music types.
Opinion: Dyslexia “A Hidden Gem” For Brands & Agencies
Dyslexics offer underappreciated benefits in the corporate field, according to this op-ed.
David Jones Taps Criteo To Power Online Retail Media Arm
Want to see ads for things you probably can't afford? David Jones has got you covered with new retail media play.
oOh!media Sets Up Team To Target Business Audiences Across Airports & Offices
oOh! wants brands to harass you every minute of your next business trip.
QMS Launches Australian First DOOH & TV Partnership With Samba TV
Samba TV, of course, is not a channel dedicated to dancing. Much to our dismany.
Slew Of New Hires At Amplify
Four new faces join the Amplify offices. Team say desk scarcity becoming "acute".
Adobe Announces Content Authenticity Initiative Expansions To Counter Deep Fakes
Try as they might to enlighten them, we suspect Trump supporters will continue to watch and believe Fox News.
The PR Group Appoints TechCrunch Senior Reporter Catherine Shu As Director Of Content & Media
Catherine Shu makes the bold leap from journalism to PR. Says inevitable pay bump was "unrelated".
HERO Nabs Ebony Santin From AMPR
Rumours Santin cleared out the stationery cupboard before departing are as yet unconfirmed.
Karena Noble Checks Out Of EVT Hotels & Resorts To Launch Comms Consultancy
Noble still managed to squeezed in a continental breakfast before departing.
Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity To Bring Professional Design Tools To Every Organisation
Canva & Adobe face off continues. We're not picking sides but keenly aware that Canva's office is next door to ours.
“Lean On Our Team To Help You Find An Audience”: Why Understanding Audience Engagement Is Essential In Journalism
Engaging the audience is critical to journos, apparently. We'd thought self-loathing & alcoholism were key.
Adobe Summit: Major Gen AI Developments, Data Concessions & Partnerships
What happens in Vegas stays there. Unless it's the Adobe Summit and then you get to read about in B&T.