A singular problem throughout crises such because the COVID-19 pandemic is an inclination to give attention to present issues whereas letting long term points care for themselves. That level is totally comprehensible; it’s clearly clever to give attention to doing all you possibly can at the moment to remain wholesome and alive, however doing so dangers lacking or slighting future alternatives.
In addition, specializing in returning to a “normal” that appears just about just like the world did earlier than COVID-19 turned the world the wrong way up is shortsighted. Why? Besides the risks of igniting a second wave of infections, the longer the dislocation of the pandemic continues the extra possible that processes, practices, providers and behaviors will probably be significantly completely different than they was.
There remains to be time to meaningfully take into account what the world would possibly or will seem like after the disaster passes. In reality, Jeff Clarke, Dell Technologies COO and vice chairman, just lately posted a weblog that captures his views on the “new normal” and the way individuals and organizations can adapt to these challenges and alternatives.
Four acceleration factors
Clarke’s complete put up is value studying and contemplating, however for the sake of brevity, these are the 4 main acceleration factors that he believes the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked:
- We’ll have a bigger distant workforce, increasing expertise swimming pools and decreasing environmental impression. The debate on whether or not a big distant workforce might be productive is over. We’re studying that it’s not solely attainable, it’s profitable. This will fluctuate throughout organizations and industries, notably in jobs the place being on-site and on the entrance strains is a requirement, however post-pandemic, upwards of 50% of the skilled workforce will work remotely.
- Global provide chains will endure fast transformation—numerous, resilient and digital. During the final couple of months, corporations discovered their provide chains weren’t as world and native as they wanted to be. As importantly, there was a wakeup name on how clear and safe the end-to-end provide chain really is.
- The 4th industrial revolution will arrive quicker and provides us a path to financial restoration. The fourth industrial revolution—the place knowledge permits breakthroughs in AI and automation to ship autonomous machines, linked cities—has been mentioned for some time. Now, we’re on an accelerated timeline. Organizations capable of adapt and evolve will survive and are available out stronger. I see expertise as a key path to financial restoration.
- Health care and schooling will rework to have the best impression on society if we get it proper. Digital transformation means constructive modifications for healthcare and schooling, creating the flexibility to achieve everybody to shut expertise gaps and put together the workforce of the longer term. The problem? There are nonetheless elements of our nation and the world which might be in want of community bandwidth and assist at scale.
Final evaluation
These are all intriguing points, so let’s take into account them so as.
Clarke’s feedback concerning the growth of distant workforce choices and insurance policies are spot-on, each when it comes to its worth and the necessities mandatory for profitable execution. Dell has been a bellwether for such practices; previous to the pandemic, practically two-thirds of the…
