The Innovation Imperative

Our survey of 777 senior executives from across the globe has uncovered a global innovation phenomenon - accelerated, concentrated and expedited by the tumult of the last few years. A mindset shift is clear across the traditionally laggard infrastructure, construction, transportation, energy and natural resources sectors, with executives uniting through a refreshed push for innovation within their organisations.

89% of executives believe that disruption and uncertainty in their industry is creating greater pressure to innovate and stay relevent.

Digital disruption was not seen
to be a negative, however, with
94%of executives
regarding
digital as an opportunity rather
than a threat.

How digital transformation has become a matter of survival

COVID-19 and its associated shocks have had an extraordinary impact on innovation. The status quo has been de-constructed, fresh thinking is bubbling up, and there is a confidence and a bullishness that did not exist pre-COVID.

We have identified key themes that explain how COVID-19 has changed innovation in the infrastructure, construction, transportation, energy and natural resources industries.

Research insights

How can organisations respond to The Innovation Imperative?

There are five critical enabling capabilities that need to be considered to set the stage for a more innovative future.

Creating an inspiring leadership narrative

To create an environment that shapes the culture, mindset and behaviours, where businesses think ahead to future-proof the organisation.

Fostering an innovation mindset

The need for openness to new ideas, for curiosity, for a willingness to challenge how things are done, and for a risk-driven, experimental approach.

Tracking technology and market trajectories

The need for insight and intelligence capabilities to assess how different market and technology trajectories are developing and to better understand a set of probable futures in terms of applications, use cases and competitors.

Pursuing more radical forms of collaboration

The need to pursue even more progressive and radical forms of collaboration to keep pace.

Driving innovation top-down and bottom-up

The ability to create a culture of innovation that empowers all to pursue their ideas and opportunities, whilst also ensuring the foremost strategic bets are being properly pursued.

In the next one or two years, organisations will have a once-in-a-century
opportunity to leapfrog. Industry lines have been blurred, symmetric
competition is coming into and impacting various industries and sectors
and therefore others will have a significant first-mover advantage over
these organisations So it’s not a question of, “Should we grow and
focus on the future?”, it’s a question of, “How quickly can we grow,
thrive, and plan ahead based on digital innovation?”

Kumar Parakala
President - GHD Digital

Join The Innovation Imperative conversation

Register for our upcoming webinar to hear from the whitepaper’s leading voices. Sharing invaluable nuances and deepening insights, this Think Digital webinar is for individuals embracing innovation as an opportunity rather than a threat.

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GHD Digital Thought Book

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