The the pace of change over the past two decades has been relentless...
The advent of the “connected age” - in particular - has done more than anything else to revolutionise the way we live and work.
Some even assert that that we're approaching a "technological singularity" where machines might begin advancing beyond human control.
Earlier this week, a new book entitled High Frequency Change was published by Manchester-based applied futurist Tom Cheesewright.
It suggests that we need a new way of thinking about business - and our own careers - to ensure we consistently cope with this change.
Cheesewright explained: "Neither people nor organisations are prepared for high frequency change.
"We don't have the tools to deal with it, so it is incredibly disruptive to our ability to plan and operate.
"We need a new way of thinking about business, and our own careers, if we want to build sustainable success in this age of high frequency change."
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As an applied futurist, Cheesewright helps people and organisations around the world to see what’s next and to build a coherent response.
He consults with clients looking for greater foresight into the near future, and teaches and licences a range of tools for building more agile organisations.
When asked why he decided to write the book, Cheesewright explained: “It's there as an expression of a mission.
“I firmly believe that we need to change the way that we think about business, and our own careers, if we are to build sustainable success in this age of uncertainty.
“I surveyed 2,000 adults in the 海角视频 recently and more than two thirds feel like change happens faster now than in the past.
“This rises to three quarters for those over 55.
“A lot of this sense of acceleration comes from the pace of change in technology.
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“But if anything, it is only going to get faster.
“While I’m sceptical about the idea of the technological singularity – machines inventing new machines faster than we can keep up – happening soon, recent news about the progress of quantum computing suggests we could be on the verge of a new revolution.
“More computing power contributes to advances in all other areas of science and technology, which accelerate in turn.
“In other words, buckle up.”
So, what should tech businesses be doing at this point in time to manage change?
Cheesewright explains that the single most important lesson is recognising that there is “no stability” anymore.
“Every business leader must shift their focus from optimisation to adaptation.
“If you spend all your time trying to do better tomorrow what you were already doing yesterday, you will miss the radical changes when they come.
“Instead, we need to shape our organisations to be hyper-responsive to both changing customer need and evolving market opportunities.
“I talk about this as building ‘athletic organisations’ in the book.
“Great athletes have three critical characteristics. A supple body that helps them adapt.
“Sharp senses for their immediate environment and the changing strategic landscape of the game.
“And rapid decision-making to process those inputs.
“Future-ready organisations demonstrate all these characteristics.
“In business this translates into the way we structure our organisations, building them as networks not monoliths, that can be rapidly reassembled.
“It means having a formal process for foresight and devoting time to it frequently – ideally at least every six months.
“And it means pushing power to the edge of the organisation so that your people can respond rapidly to the changing environment.”
For more information about High Frequency Change or to purchase a copy log onto
If there is one thing that stays the same in business it is that everything is constantly changing.
Lawrence Jones, CEO of 海角视频Fast, says: "When you consider how different our lives are now from a century ago, it is astonishing.
"Not much more than 100 years ago, we were still relying on horse-drawn ambulance, now we have AI to diagnose health problems and robotics to carry out surgery!
" In the nineties we had a whole range of devices like the tape Walkman, huge plastic calculators, and cameras with film that had to be developed in the shop over the course of a week.
"You’d need a backpack, if not a suitcase, to carry them all around. Now we have all of that functionality and more in a palm-sized device that fits on our pockets.
" For business leaders that presents an unenviable challenge of staying agile enough to keep abreast with the pace of change, and with changing consumer need.
"We all like to feel comfortable, settled knowing that ‘that’s the way we’ve always done things’ but that mindset is only going to hold you back. The successful companies and people are those who not only are comfortable with change, they drive it.
We’re in an in-demand world, where we are always connected and seemingly want everything in an instant, with minimal effort. It’s up to businesses to serve that need in the best way that they can.
"Perhaps this is why Amazon Prime and one-hour delivery models are thriving, yet the High Street continues to struggle.
"It is absolutely essential to ensure that businesses of all shapes and size are embracing the technology to help them evolve. With more tech than ever at our fingertips, we have the tools to manage the change, perhaps it’s mindset that is lagging behind."