Thoughts from the Big Chair - by Russell Haworth (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In recent years, millions of companies have undergone digital transformations, harnessing digital technologies like the cloud, SaaS, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things to overhaul their businesses and drive growth. But many key decision-makers, including senior leaders and board members, simply don't understand these technologies, how they work, what they do, and the potential they bring. So, they fail to capitalize on them, putting their business at risk. This book solves this problem by describing these technologies in laypeople's terms, breaking down the key concepts behind them, and spelling out their potential. But it goes further, offering useful information for anyone who seeks to launch a digital transformation initiative -- information that author Russell Haworth has gathered and applied during his twenty-plus years as a tech leader. Anyone interested in spearheading their own digital transformation effort will benefit from reading this book.

From the Back Cover

Capitalize on the power of emerging technologies to transform your enterprise, disrupt your industry, and GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Digital transformation. If you're a senior leader or you sit on the board at a large or mid-sized company, you've probably heard this phrase a million times. But what does it mean? Simply put, digital transformation describes the strategic application of digital technologies to processes and practices to grow your business in a rapidly changing environment.

But for many businesses, it's about survival. Companies that transform into digital enterprises are likely to thrive; companies that don't might face extinction. Despite this, it often seems as though few senior leaders or board members have the knowledge needed to grasp the importance of digital transformation, to assess the digital technologies associated with it, and most importantly, to make sound decisions about it.

That's the purpose of this book: to provide these key decision-makers with this knowledge. To that end, it unveils the possibilities of digital transformation and distills the key concepts behind associated technologies. It also defines confusing tech terminology using language you can understand. And it offers advice for companies that want to digitally transform, including a strategic roadmap, leadership tips, culture concerns, workflow improvements, and security concerns.