2013: The Year Of Zero Tolerance

It’s very apparent. It stares you in the face, you cannot miss it. If there was one thing that made an impact in 2012, that was technology - both the device and the software. The mobile devices with social networking apps on them were the kings and queens of 2012. I went into a research mode to see if there was an equivalent ubiquitous thing in the past that made a huge impact. Not surprisingly, what came up was a weapon - the AK-47 assault rifle. This rifle is so light and efficient that sadly it can be used by children with minimal learning. This is the most abundantly mass produced rifle and has changed the way wars are fought!

The same can be said of mobile device+social networking apps in 2012. This weapon has given huge strength to the common man across cultures and geographies to raise their voice over what they feel is undesirable, unethical and wrong. Mature democracies to dictatorship regimes have bent down under the force of these voices fuelled by the mobile device+social networking app weapon. What we saw around the world in the form of Occupy Wall Street to Arab Spring is now in our own backyard in India. Governments are seeing the absolute non-tolerant citizen who might not be voting but is definitely out there to tear down structures that don’t find relevance in today’s times. Not very sure if the mobile devices are feeding on the need to be socially connected on the move or the apps are feeding on the device proliferation. Computerisation of technology is happening at an amazing unprecedented phase that most CIOs could only wish for their projects in the enterprise.

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One needs to take cognisance of the fact that the attitudes are changing. Absolute intolerance to mediocrity, blatant abuse of power and flouting of authority to curb voice of dissent will only grow in strength. I foresee 2013 to be a year where people in public service will come under scrutiny and will suffer lack of credibility and respect. The government and hence the police will find themselves completely lacking in credibility. Socially connected mobile individuals armed with the power of convergence of video, audio and data over the Internet will be putting extreme pressure on every social structure - government, police, tradition, religion and family to align to their way of life and find relevance in a positive manner as they live their lives. You will see people in position and power react rather clumsily at first as you have seen in the last two weeks and hopefully, they will adapt and align to serve rather than dictate.

Sooner or later the citizen is going to bring the same attitude to work on Monday morning and the effect of this will be felt on the office floors all through till Friday. Enterprises that don’t engage on a connected platform with their employees, will find employees engaging outside of the corporate structure on corporate issues, through their 3G connected cellphones armed with Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Many corporates today are still hierarchical structures of power when it comes to most things that significantly impact organisational fabric. This is where employees might draw parallels with what is happening in our society outside the corporate world. Mediocrity and inefficiencies might come under fire within corporates.

Connected employees are much more potent than unions. Most organisations that engage employees effectively, will find a greater appreciation coming their way. The better life inside the security of the corporate building as compared to the life on the street will only go on to improve and increase employee engagement scores and drive higher employee loyalty. Meaningful engagement within the connected corporate, that not just contributes to the employee, but also acknowledges employees’ contribution by keeping them in the decision making process, will go a long way. This is not only the right thing to do, this also keeps the spill over of the anger and frustration from entering the office environment.

CIOs have a huge role to play here. They can be the people who can drive the ground rules of connected enterprise, not as an order taker but as a direction setter. Can CIOs stand up and hold their own when some of the ground rules come under pressure from HR, Finance, Legal and Branding? Many a CIOs will be told that it’s not their business to set the ground rules of engagement on the platform. How CIOs react in those situations and conduct themselves will differentiate the direction setters from the order takers. Direction setting is about painting a strategy and executing on the same with the intent of building long lasting structures on solid foundations. Every CIO knows what the best foundation for their organisation is. Jan 2nd, 2013, Wednesday - most people will come into office with a mixed feeling of having mourned the brave heart, wondering what beholds as future for our girls and women back home, and definitely some excitement around the fact that the old year has gone by and maybe the New Year will bring in some hope and cheer. Are the enterprises ready to take on the challenges that will be making their way starting this Wednesday?