OccupierEdge_Fall2016

This trend is not only transforming the way we think about business but also how we organize it and develop it. Organizations need to engage customers, partners and employees into a productive, trust-based relationship in which intimate business information is shared; successes and failures, strategies and innovations. The openness is breaking down traditional organizational boundaries as organizations ‘crowdsource’ knowledge and funding, and clients/consumers are directly driving innovation or even becoming producers. Collaboration and co-creation with clients, suppliers, partners and academia is driving strategy in directions that are not planned or programmed. “It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” CHARLES DARWIN It is this encouragement to think and act differently which allows digital businesses to innovate and disrupt so successfully. Some of the biggest success stories in recent times change the rules for competition, crowdsourcing content so that consumers become collaborators. Airbnb is the world’s largest accommodation provider, yet owns no real estate. Facebook is the world’s largest media owner, yet owns no content. Uber is the largest taxi company yet owns no taxis. But it is not just new market entrants who are adopting this radically open approach. Large and established names are transforming their business models. Many Microsoft offices have opened up their ground floors to the community to hang out with them. KPMG has just acquired 40,000 sq ft of space in the West End of London just for clients. Co-working spaces across the world are increasingly attracting the big corporations as well as the start-ups and medium sized enterprises.

THE PRINCIPLES OF RADICAL OPENNESS

Collaboration anytime and across multiple channels

Transparency of business processes and physical space

Sharing of ideas and of space

Interconnectivity and ease of movement between all roles in the organization

30 The Occupier Edge