When More Equals Less Usable Information

Once a year, IBM presents its Global Technology Outlook (GTO) and Global Innovation Outlook (GIO). The purpose of these tools is to surface trends in technology and business.

The GTO can be thought of as an inside out view of emerging technology trends, where as the GIO is geared towards starting conversations about innovation, business transformation, and trends in society.

Last week, I attended a local lunch and learn, with guest speaker Dr. David McQueeney, CTO of IBM Federal and VP of Strategy and Technology with the IBM Software Group. The event was hosted by Greenville Spartanburg Anderson Technology Council (GSATC.org).

In the talk, McQueeney cited some rather interesting statistics from both quantitative sources, such as the IBM CEO Survey (March 2006)* as well as more qualitative information. Some of the more notable information points to the rising level of priority change management and adaptability to rapidly evolving business and political climates has taken are as follows:

• CEOs and agency heads plan radical changes for the companies and agencies in the next 2 years*,
• 80% of CEO’s believe their organizations were unsuccessful in change management initiatives*,
• and 78% of CEOs believe the integration of business and technology is core to innovation*.

The Goal

The goal would be to enable “strategic flexibility through innovation.”

The problem is the mounting complexity of technology systems and business processes necessary to compete in today’s world – not just economically but politically.

What IBM concluded was:

• Complex infrastructures in existence with no integration roadmap,
• A general lack of business process standards,
• Agencies and Businesses have thousands of applications to support,
• and existing applications are extended every year with new applications being added.

The Result:

The net result: “complexity is the unpleasant reality.”

IBM concluded a tipping point has been reached, where the average person is struggling with technology even while they can see the overall benefits. In other words, technology is standing in its own way of making everyone’s life easier.

What common questions do you hear that might confirm this notion? IBM offers these:

• “I can’t keep up with the e-mail in my inbox.”
• “Where did I put that document?”
• “Is this the most up to date version of the presentation?”
• “Who is our company expert on <topic X>?””
• “How do I connect our leading tracking system to our CRM database?”

My Take:

The economics of abundance yields a complex world for users, and yields inhibitors for creation of new capabilities versus our expectations.

Simply put, information creation and propagation abounds while usable information remains tucked away in small nooks and crannies.

The problem is there are a multitude of nooks and crannies to which these cockroaches-of-information can scurry.

The ability to predicatively react, or pro-act, remains high on the radar, and with the current economic climate innovations geared towards efficiencies and bottom-line savings will be the hot ticket. Some will fail, and many will muddle through. However, the true winners will be those who are able to connect the dots and fund innovations geared to lessen the visible complexity, enhance efficiencies, and/or create real-dollar cost savings.

Image credit: Harald Süpfle

Ken Stewart’s blog, ChangeForge.com, focuses on the collision between the constantly changing worlds of business and technology. Ken is also the Director of Technology at Kearns Business Solutions.