Richard Solomon

Covid-19 has hotwired the 4th industrial revolution. Many managers are faced with the prospect of leading virtual organizations, as some elements of remote working are retained although the pandemic morphs to its endemic stage. This reality presents various options to the organization which would ordinarily be viewed through binary lenses. However, the complexity of the environment calls for leaders to take non-binary perspectives and consider the presented paradox through both/and lenses. Leaders must now consider “the organization” as a hybrid entity, seeking to marry seemingly opposing interests, views and ideas in a united win-win whole. This challenge is further complexified by sweeping technological changes across all industries. In this interactive session, participants will explore the 4th industrial revolution in the current environmental context, consider the various paradoxes presented and review a framework for leading the hybrid organization.

These are challenging and interesting economic times, more than ever before Caribbean organizations are faced with a plethora of forces which call in to question the business and model and strategies of even long-standing companies. Several potent forces press in on leaders and organizations including global competition, foreign exchange pressures and increasing production costs. Moreover, consumers are the most demanding they have ever been – not quietly accepting the standard offerings. Efficiency remains important yet effectiveness is the rallying cry from all stakeholders. The fact is that in this milieu, the organization only really needs one overarching strategic focus and that is satisfying the consumer. This consumer-centric bent provides a beacon to align all other systems, products, people and processes. Asset integrity, digitization, financing, capital structure, HSSE, hiring, promotions, succession and others should therefore be carefully aligned to the consumer perspectiv