The era of the uprooted enterprise

Changing times

In the economic sphere we are experiencing fascinating times. The rise of the fast-growing new global players, China and India, has shifted the centre of gravity of the world economy from west to east. Also, in countries such as Brazil, Russia and the Gulf States there has been rapid economic growth. Moreover, the nature of our economic activities is also changing: from a manufacturing economy we are moving increasingly towards a service environment. As a result, traditional ways of doing things have come under pressure, just like our working practices. Business transactions, after all, are increasingly taking place across national or even continental frontiers. The internet is fast becoming our work platform.

Uprooted

A business started a hundred years ago with roots as strong as a tree should, after a century, still have the same roots, branches and fruit.  But in our rapidly-changing world and today’s economy, businesses must now depart from their established traditions, systems and locales.  Organisations that succeed in transcending their old roots and breaking new ground are called ‘uprooted companies’.  Indeed, precisely as a result of this flexibility, they are able to identify and accept challenges and make full use of the opportunities which the market offers.  ICT drives such flexibility, as well as sustainable growth, profit and mobility.

It is in fact no longer possible to imagine the present any3-economy in which we work and communicate anywhere, anyhow and anytime without ICT.  People and businesses work closely together regardless of their physical location, time or equipment. This development fundamentally impacts every participating organisation.  It affects all processes and relations between employees, customers, suppliers and partners.  Paying customers naturally want to make full use of these ‘always and everywhere’ services: an ‘uprooted company’ can meet these demands, even taking into account the customer’s personal profile.  ICT also strengthens client relations, by (for example) computerisation of customer databases or improved control over the supply chain.  Over and above this, ICT has become the basis of a new business model for some businesses.  Internet companies rely on the latest technological developments, while traditional service providers are rushing headlong into internet technology.