Having spent a quarter of a century developing some of the world’s most inspirational and successful leaders in both the public and private sectors, Richard Kelly is acutely aware that leadership is linked to the organisational and economic systems in which leaders lead.

And now, in 2019, it has never been more important for leaders to adapt their style – as the fourth industrial revolution rapidly approaches, and workplace innovation prepares to become more collaborative than at any other point in organisational history.

In his new book, Kelly outlines this shift and prepares leaders to embrace the new paradigm of the digital economy and collaborative workplace and approach leadership in a more responsive way that inspires shared innovation, collective decision making and swarming teams.

Synopsis of ‘Constructing Leadership 4.0: Swarm Leadership and the Fourth Industrial Revolution’:

The Fourth Industrial Revolution signals a sea change in the way we lead our organisations. Moving away from relational leadership and horizontal, organisationally-led development, it is imperative that business leaders are able to adapt to more networked organisations and shift away from dated assumptions of positional power. Constructing Leadership 4.0 breaks new ground by explaining the urgent challenges facing managers and business leaders. It will teach you how to:

• Approach leadership development as a system rather than a programme
• Develop an organisational ecosystem to support leadership 4.0
• Build collaborative networks
• Cultivate a responsive mindset through sensemaking
• Use non-classroom based learning methodologies for educating leaders

Rooted in leadership development methodology and underpinned by cutting-edge research, this book calls for businesses to cultivate responsive leaders through a theory of connectivism and swarm intelligence that reflects the coming cybernetic revolution.

“The current model of leadership and leadership development has no place in the future of business and organizational working,” explains the author. “The shift is now heavily toward developing leaders at a systems level. And this is only going to increase, as the concept of the “human cloud” and machine intelligence becomes the standard culture of every company and organization.”

Continuing, “it’s imperative leaders adapt away from egosystems to ecosystems, or they’ll fail and take their organizations with them. Their mindset shift and continued success starts with my book.”

‘Constructing Leadership 4.0: Swarm Leadership and the Fourth Industrial Revolution’ is available now.

The Author

Richard Kelly has spent 25 years developing leaders. Working in both public and private sectors he has developed leaders at all levels of the organisation both in the UK and overseas. Over the last 15 years, Richard has worked as an independent leadership consultant based in Europe and South America. Currently, he is the CEO of a niche leadership consulting company based in the UK, with British, European and South American clients, that seeks to develop leaders at a systems level.

• Constructing Leadership 4.0: Swarm Leadership and the Fourth Industrial Revolution
• By Richard Kelly
• Out Now
• Published by Palgrave Macmillan
• Paperback Version: £21.58

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Constructing Leadership 4.0: The Practical Guide To Master The Challenges Of The Industry 4.0 appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths are key to the innovative small businesses that are set to make up a significant proportion of the Government’s future industrial strategy. Research and innovation are the main drivers behind the industry disruptors that make up our world leading SME sector and the keys behind this are the skilled individuals that form these businesses. However, there is a skills gap that means that these key roles are often going unfilled as young people leave school and university without the relevant skills.

This has never been of more importance as more than 50% of modern jobs require some degree of technology skill, with experts predicting that this percentage will increase to 77% in the next decade. If we are not proactive in teaching these skills the gap is only likely to grow apace with the increasing numbers of tech related jobs.

Key stats (taken from research compliant with the British polling council, over a nationally representative sample of 2006 people)

• 54% of people feel their professional success is down to personal merit, conviction and perseverance and not the guidance of academic or professional support
• Only 17% feel that they had clear guidance from teachers, professors and career advisors regarding the choices to make in order to get the career they wanted
• 29% of 18-34 year olds have been advised to be more realistic in their career goals by those who influenced their career progression.
• 10% of jobs created in the UK are tech based
• Businesses are facing a shortfall of 173,000 skilled workers costing STEM businesses £1.5bn a year
• 43% of STEM vacancies are suffering from a shortage of applicants with the required skills and experience

Mark Brownridge, Director General of the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association, has commented on what this skills gap means for British small business, “The Government’s industrial strategy and changes to the ‘knowledge-intensive’ portion of the Enterprise Investment Scheme have made it clear that innovation is at the forefront of future plans for the UK economy. The SME sector contributes £2trillion each year to Britain’s economy, this crucial pillar of the private sector is a world leader in new ideas and technology that will drive forward progress. It is, however, clear that the skills needed to push forward the businesses in their respective fields are often in short supply in those leaving university and school and applying for these jobs.”

The expert thinks that there needs to be increased support for young people looking to study STEM subjects who will drive the technology sector forward in the future. The research and innovation coming from small businesses will be key to the private sector in the future. Small businesses especially can be hugely impacted by the skills present in their employees, with a smaller workforce there is less scope for a lack of relevant skills to go unnoticed.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post A STEM Skills Gaps Impact Directly Tech Innovators And Fail To Keep Up With Industrial Disruption appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Digital technology has created new businesses and shaken up old. Entire industries have already been transformed, but emerging technologies show no sign of abating, and more than 75% of industries are now at risk of major disruption in the coming years.

While such disruption is seen as a threat by many, digital technology also presents the biggest opportunity for product-making businesses to re-think how they conceive, make, distribute and support the next generation of goods in the marketplace. Now in a new book, Reinventing the Product, two of Accenture’s digital transformation experts provide a practical roadmap for how companies can successfully ride the coming waves of digital disruption.

In Reinventing the Product, authors Eric Schaeffer and David Sovie assess how digital technologies such as the Internet of Things, data analytics, blockchain, cloud computing and particularly AI are transforming traditional products. They outline the future of smart connected products and ecosystem platforms, explain how today’s users expect personalised product experiences and prove that these fundamental changes are happening much faster than most organisations realise.

The reality is that companies that fail to embrace digital technologies today, risk failing tomorrow. Reinventing the Product provides a practical “how-to” guide to help organisations successfully reinvent their product and transform their business models, processes and culture to ensure they have the agility to thrive and succeed in the digital age.

Why this book matters:

• A new product world is emerging where point-of-purchase no longer marks the handover of responsibility for the product to the user – products will continue to interact with makers, users and other products in multi-directional value generating circles
• More than 75% of industries are at risk of disruption, or already significantly disrupted
• New disruptive technologies, including 5G networks, quantum computing, 4D printing, nanotechnologies and smart materials are on the horizon
• Digital is overtaking hardware as the source of value in products – companies that don’t adapt face eradication in the ‘outcome economy’
• Traditional hardware product development is broken. Companies need to pivot to new methods of product engineering and design
• Written by two of Accenture’s leading experts in tech innovation and strategy, providing a practical road map to adapt products and processes

Packed with compelling real-life case studies and expert insights from brands including Faurecia, Samsung, Caterpillar, Amazon, Tesla and Google, Reinventing the Product provides practical advice for business leaders as they embark on, or accelerate, their digitalisation journey.

“Eric Schaeffer did it again. After his spearheading Industry X.0, which has inspired our team of entrepreneurs to adapt our digital strategy creatively, he now co-authors with David Sovie a brilliant, richly detailed roadmap to the digital future for all product making companies. No doubt: this is again a must-read.” Zhang Ruimin, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO, Haier Group.

“Reinventing the Product doesn’t just look thoroughly at how the disruptive waves of digital technologies will affect product companies (including the subscription economy). Drawing on a deep analysis of five profound shifts they face and complemented with compelling case studies, Eric Schaeffer and David Sovie also provide strategic and practical “how-to” advice for businesses as they develop digital products. An inspirational call-to-action.” Eric Chaniot, Chief Digital Officer, Michelin.

The Authors

Eric Schaeffer is the Global Lead for Accenture’s Industrial practice, helping automotive, industrial equipment and infrastructure companies to digitally reinvent their businesses and create a new level of innovation and efficiency across the extended connected value chain. He is also Senior Managing Director, Accenture’s Product Industry X.0 practice, bringing together services across innovation, engineering and product development, manufacturing and digital operations, and product services optimization.

David Sovie is Senior Managing Director at Accenture, and Global Lead for High-Tech Industry where he helps clients digitally reinvent their business across the entire value chain. He also leads the Industry X.0 consulting unit for Accenture’s Communications, Media and Technology group, which provides digital transformation services across the innovation, engineering, manufacturing and product support business functions.

• Reinventing the product
• By Eric Schaeffer & David Sovie
• Out Now
• Published by Kogan Page
• Paperback Version: £19.99
• ISBN: 978-0749484644

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Reinventing the Product: A Practical Road Map For The 75% Of Industries Facing Disruption appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The latest M&A market report from international technology mergers and acquisitions advisor, Hampleton Partners, sheds light on how technology giants in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) are transforming their businesses by buying, funding or partnering with connected and intelligent manufacturing technologies and data management companies to ensure they are well-positioned for the Fourth Industrial Revolution – Industry 4.0.

Hampleton’s Industry 4.0 M&A Market Report records more than 600 deals in 2018, up from 513 in 2017. The analysis reveals that the highest level of interest lies in AI technologies with context information, digital threads (linking data through the lifecycle of a product and its communication with other cyber-physical systems) and digital twin solutions (digital replications of a physical body, e.g. a machine).

Dr.-Ing. Peter Baumgartner, sector principal at Hampleton Partners, said:

“A mere buzzword a few years ago, Industry 4.0 has become today’s reality and is one of the hottest M&A sectors in the DACH region. Liquidity is at a high level, meaning that buyers have the funds to support start-ups or established Industry 4.0 players, and the cutting-edge technology coming out of the region has generated many M&A deals.”

Industry 4.0 has become integral to the region’s technology giants such as Bosch Rexroth, Festo and Siemens, whilst a recent strategic partnership between Rockwell Automation and PTC, accompanied by a $1 billion equity investment from the former, further demonstrates the importance of integrating innovations such as  IoT and augmented reality with more traditional industrial automation.

Significant Industry 4.0 deals

Automotive: WayRay, a Swiss developer of complex augmented reality hardware, received $80 million in a Series C funding round led by Porsche in September 2018. WayRay is developing the first holographic AR navigation system for vehicles. Its high technology smart glass can also be utilised in a wide variety of industries, including construction.

Smart building and construction: as part of its strategy to strengthen its building services offering in the DACH region, ENGIE acquired German building automation specialist OTTO Luft- und Klimatechnik in December 2018. OTTO offers services and products in ventilation and air conditioning, cooling technology and building automation. In 2018, the company generated around €120 million in revenue with approximately 700 employees.

Cleantech: GreenPocket, a German smart metering provider, received €3.1 million in a growth funding round led by DEW21. GreenPocket uses technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science to deliver software for consumption visualisation and energy management. The company has already realised 125 smart energy projects for more than 75 customers in 12 countries worldwide.

Medical technology: in September, German private equity firm EMH Partners acquired a minority shareholding in the German software-based medical technology provider Brainlab. Brainlab develops medical software and hardware for precise minimally-invasive surgical procedures, and its products are used in 5,000 hospitals worldwide. In 2017 the company generated €275 million in revenue.

Robotics and machinery: Graphcore, a British artificial intelligence chipmaker, received $200 million in a Series D round led by Robert Bosch Venture Capital. Graphcore develops and manufactures processors and software for artificial and machine intelligence. The company’s IPU is the first processor designed specifically for machine intelligence training and inference and delivers an increase in speed of 10x to 100x compared to today’s hardware. The company was valued at $1.7 billion in the transaction.

The future of Industry 4.0 M&A

Hampleton’s report highlights that four per cent of the investment received in the DACH region hailed from China. Chinese investment goals are shifting from acquiring consumer brands to building out a European presence in high-tech processes. Deals like the $5 billion tie-up between German robotics giant KUKA and Chinese home appliance manufacturer Midea underline this drive for DACH-based Industry 4.0 assets.

Dr. Peter Baumgartner concluded: “This industrial revolution is forcing traditional companies to initiate synergy-driven partnerships and increase their M&A activity as they absorb high-tech data management and connected technologies to remain competitive.”

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post The Advent of Industry 4.0: From Buzzword to Reality appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The UK AI field will play a huge role in industry going forward, according to West-Midlands pallet truck specialists, Midlands Pallet Trucks.

The firm – which supplies manual lifting equipment like manual stacker pallet trucks and sack trucks and trolleys to organisations in industry and logistics – has said that Artificial Intelligence will play a significant, defining role in Industry 4.0. And, with so much research and innovation taking place in the UK, the company added, this revolution could happen sooner rather than later.

The applications of AI – although widespread – are still in their infancy and the near future could see Ai-fed processes becoming the norm across swathes of industry, from gaining insight into efficiencies to product design to the manufacturing process itself. Midland Pallet Trucks is keen to point out that British industry stands at a critical crossroads when it comes to the uptake of AI and its management against the existing, human workforce. One of the main goals of AI – the firm points out – is to provide workspaces with machines that have autonomy and pull from a vast bank of knowledge on how best to proceed, but the impact on jobs and human-occupied roles will require careful and considerate planning.

Ultimately, Artificial Intelligence could carry the power to automate and oversee a number of roles that currently rely on human thought and reaction for the best outcomes. With this will come either the need to retrain staff for roles overseeing AI processes or, in the worst outcome, result in job losses. At the same time, AI provides enormous potential for large and small firms alike to streamline their in-house processes and boost their bottom lines. Midlands Pallet Trucks points out that regulation in the area of AI is sorely lacking, and the current climate is still one ‘wait and see’, as to the benefits and drawbacks of the technology on the human workforce.

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of Midland Pallet Trucks, said, “It’s clear that Artificial Intelligence represents an enormously valuable tool for any sector of the manufacturing industry – and well beyond – but our main concern right now is how uptake is regulated and if there’s any kind of long-term vision out there in terms of minimising worker impact.

“Every warehouse and factory will still need humans on-site to oversee operations, that’s a given. But we need to be sure that Industry 4.0 doesn’t mean the exclusion of real workers in favour of cost-saving and job-eliminating AI. We know the UK is a hotbed of AI innovation, and it’s important that the impacts are assessed just as thoroughly as the benefits.”

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post The UK’s Role in AI will have a Major Impact on Industry 4.0 appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.