how to think about disruption

How to think about disruption April 2, 2014

Jeff DeChambeau

B.A. Philosophy, Western University

Senior Analyst, T4G Limited

Here we are

The end of internet jerks big data, social networks, science, Valve, organization design, user experience

Codename: Space Mongoose marketing, innovation, IT, consumerization, disruption, open source, agility

Beware the bananas disruption, technology, Google, Apple, mp3s, record labels, DC++, bananas

2004

Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Starcraft, Diablo 3, Chess, ICQ, HTML/CSS, Photoshop, Wordpress, FTP, Forums

One day I heard a story.

2004

Why tell this story?

Since 1979 Internet

PC/laptop computers Mobile phones

E-mail DNA testing and sequencing

MRI scans Microprocessors

Fiber optics Office software

Non-invasive surgery Open source software Light emitting diodes Liquid crystal display

GPS systems Online shopping/ecommerce/auctions

JPEG, MPEG, MP3 Microfinance

Photovoltaic Solar Energy Large scale wind turbines

Social networking via the Internet Graphic user interface (GUI)

Digital photography/videography RFID and applications

Genetically modified plants Bio fuels

Bar codes and scanners ATMs Stents

SRAM flash memory Antiretroviral treatment for AIDS

Since 2011

Compare

What’s going on here?

Past Present (prediction)

We predict linearly

Past

Present (real)

And miss the future

Past

Present

Future (prediction)

So we try again

Past

Present

And miss again Future (real)

Past

Present

Future What’s going on here?

Linear predictions no longer work.

We need to think exponentially.

Past

Present

Future

The world is changing faster than ever.

OK. So?

Copied thinking

+ Exponential change

Disruption

2006

The moral

We mimic the behaviour of others.

This also mimics their thinking.

Change is invalidating old thinking, fast.

Don’t be a monkey.

Switched from Physics to Philosophy

Well known internet user

Student leadership & residence internet commissioner

2006

Graduated from Western with a BA in Philosophy

Joined New Paradigm, Don Tapscott’s think tank

Found cool ideas, sold them to big companies

2008

A case study:

Problem: Online, people are often jerks.

The end of internet jerks big data, social networks, science, Valve, organization design, user experience

Codename: Space Mongoose marketing, innovation, IT, consumerization, disruption, open source, agility

Beware the bananas technology, Google, Apple, xn, mp3s, record labels, DC++, bananas

Cool. So?

We can design (and improve) behaviour.

We can capture data like never before.

Feedback is really important.

Go back to basics. (The scientific method!)

2008

2011

T4G in 30 seconds

We design, develop, and implement technology solutions that help our

customers run their businesses better.

Analytics Digital

Marketing Managed Services

Omnichannel Custom

Development

T4G Research

We think about the future.

Today

The end of internet jerks big data, social networks, science, Valve, organization design, user experience

Codename: Space Mongoose marketing, innovation, IT, consumerization, disruption, open source, agility

Beware the bananas technology, Google, Apple, xn, mp3s, record labels, DC++, bananas

And?

Spend time, not money.

Incredible tools are free (or cheap).

If you know a better way, prove it.

Don’t ask for permission.

Pick absurd goals.

One more thing…

Watch out for WALL-E employment, skills, machine learning, Jeopardy, robots, drones, The Matrix

Just an issue for manual labour, right?

Wrong.

These are your tools to create a better world.

Just remember:

Pick absurd goals.

Go back to basics.

Don’t be a monkey.

Thank you!

http://t4g.com http://twitter.com/t4g

http://jeffdechambeau.com

http://twitter.com/jeffdechambeau

jeff.dechambeau@t4g.com