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IBM on Capitalizing on Complexity

Complexity is the biggest challenge facing us, says the paper describing the results of IBM’s Global Chief Executive Officer Study. Today’s world is deeply connected on many levels which means it is susceptible to system-level failures. Therefore we need systems-level thinking regarding physical and digital infrastructures to anticipate and respond to how a change in one system affects another. But often the consequences of any change or decision are unknown.

The survey found three widely accepted perspectives:
1. Complexity is the biggest challenge facing us today.
2. Enterprises are not equipped to effectively cope with complexity.
3. Creativity is the single most important leadership competency for organizations seeking a path through this complexity.

The four primary findings of this survey are:
1. Complexity is expected to rise.
2. Creativity is the most important leadership competency.
3. The most successful organizations co-create products and services with customers and integrate customers into the core processes.
4. The better performers manage complexity for their organizations.

Leaders and their organizations need to embody creative leadership, reinvent customer relationships, and build operating dexterity. I will discuss these three in more detail in subsequent posts.

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About the Author:

Deborah Brown (Debbie) founded Atlanta based D&B Consulting, Inc. in 1993 to provide executive career and leadership coaching, and executive career transitions and outplacement services to organizations and individuals. She is a Master Practitioner of the MBTI personality assessment and a Certified Social + Emotional Intelligence Coach® through the Institute of Social + Emotional Intelligence® of Denver, Colorado. Debbie earned the SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) certification.