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The Innovation Ultimatum: Six Strategic Technologies That Will Reshape Every Business in the 2020s
Prepares leaders for the 2020s—an accessible guide to the key technologies that will reshape business in the coming decade
Most businesses identify six key digital technologies—artificial intelligence (AI), distributed ledgers and blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous machines, virtual and augmented reality, and 5G communication—as critical to their relevance and growth over the coming ten years. These new disruptive technologies present significant opportunity for businesses in every industry. The first businesses to understand automation and these transformative technologies will be the ones to reap the greatest rewards in the marketplace. The Innovation Ultimatum helps leaders understand the key technologies poised to reshape business in the next decade and prepare their organizations for technology-enabled change.
Using straightforward, jargon-free language, this important resource provides a set of strategic questions every leader will need to ask and answer in order to prepare for the impending changes to the business landscape. Author Steve Brown shares his insights to help leaders take full advantage of the next wave of digital transformation and describes compelling examples of how businesses are already embracing new technologies to optimize operations, create new value, and serve customers in new ways. Written for anyone that wants to understand how automation and new technology will fundamentally restructure business, this book enables readers to:
Understand the implications of technology-driven change across industrial sectors Apply important insights to their own business Gain competitive advantage by implementing new technologies Prepare for the future of work and understand the skills needed to thrive in a post-automation economy Adopt critical digital technologies in any organizationProviding invaluable cutting-edge content, The Innovation Ultimatum is a much-needed source of guidance and inspiration for business leaders, board members, C-suite executives, and senior managers who need to prepare their businesses for the future.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2020
48 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Steve Brown
674 books16 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 7, 2020
Before reading Steve Brown's book, I only had surface-level familiarity with the six most disruptive technologies facing business and society in the 2020s. Now, I have a much deeper understanding of these technologies and, more importantly, how they will impact my company and my clients' businesses as well. Regardless of whether you're selling a product or service B2B or B2C, this book will provide you with the clear insights that you need to make intelligent decisions in today's competitive environment in which technology plays an ever-growing role. Brown's adept blend of stories and data kept me engaged. I finished his book much faster than I expected because learning something new and interesting on every page made me keep going without many breaks.
As a person who has built a business largely through cultivating relationships, I was a bit apprehensive to read Brown's work since I feared that I might learn that I and other relationship builders like me might find robots and other technologies replacing us. I'm relieved to report that the book didn't portend my demise. Rather, it provided me with an understanding of new technologies and how I can leverage them to grow my relationships even more effectively than before. One of the most reassuring sentences in the book is "Technology can't automate empathy. In an automated world, human connections and brand trust will matter more than ever, in every industry."
As a person who has built a business largely through cultivating relationships, I was a bit apprehensive to read Brown's work since I feared that I might learn that I and other relationship builders like me might find robots and other technologies replacing us. I'm relieved to report that the book didn't portend my demise. Rather, it provided me with an understanding of new technologies and how I can leverage them to grow my relationships even more effectively than before. One of the most reassuring sentences in the book is "Technology can't automate empathy. In an automated world, human connections and brand trust will matter more than ever, in every industry."
February 16, 2023
Strictly speaking this is more than just a book on artificial intelligence. The Innovation Ultimatum is a guide to six disruptive digital technologies that will keep managers up at night: AI, distributed ledgers and blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous machines, virtual and augmented reality, and 5G communication.
Brown’s main thesis is basically echoing Clayton Christensen’s Innovator’s Dilemma: Companies can either innovate or they can die. This ultimatum creates an urgency I believe is anything but overblown.
Brown helps to ask the right strategic questions to master digital transformation and includes strategies to get started on each of the six technologies. Moreover, the book illustrates very well with use cases how to apply automation and data strategies enabled by the new technologies. In the final part, Brown shows the specific implications on large industries, which serve as a good inspiration of how to apply those approaches to your own company.
Brown’s main thesis is basically echoing Clayton Christensen’s Innovator’s Dilemma: Companies can either innovate or they can die. This ultimatum creates an urgency I believe is anything but overblown.
Brown helps to ask the right strategic questions to master digital transformation and includes strategies to get started on each of the six technologies. Moreover, the book illustrates very well with use cases how to apply automation and data strategies enabled by the new technologies. In the final part, Brown shows the specific implications on large industries, which serve as a good inspiration of how to apply those approaches to your own company.
July 9, 2025
Steve Brown’s "The Innovation Ultimatum: is a compelling and insightful guide that brilliantly navigates the transformative power of six strategic technologies AI, IoT, blockchain, 5G, augmented reality, and automation set to redefine business in the 2020s. Brown masterfully combines visionary foresight with practical advice, making this book an essential roadmap for entrepreneurs, executives, and innovators eager to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape. What sets this book apart is its clarity and relevance. Brown does not just explain what these technologies are; he vividly illustrates how they converge to create new opportunities and challenges for businesses across industries. Each chapter is packed with real-world examples, case studies, and actionable strategies that consider complex concepts and inspire immediate application. His engaging writing style makes even the most technical topics accessible, while his emphasis on human centric innovation ensures the book resonates on both a strategic and ethical level. The book’s core strength lies in its urgent yet optimistic tone. Brown does not shy away from the disruptive potential of these technologies, but he empowers readers to harness them for growth and positive impact. Whether you are a startup founder or a seasoned CEO, The Innovation Ultimatum will leave you energized, informed, and ready to embrace the future. A must-read for anyone looking to thrive in the 2020s and beyond highly recommended!
June 30, 2022
So I am starting a new job next week and since I will be dealing directly with fintech firms and to prepare myself, I thought I would read more about the state of the current technologies and, specifically, the fintech innovation.
The Innovation Ultimatum is a fantastic beginner friendly book that provides helpful insights into the six major technologies that, in author's opinion, will revolutionize our future. Those are: blockchain, internet of things, artificial intelligence, autonomous machines, virtual and augmented reality, and 5G communication. The book provides a quick overview of the current technological advancements in each technology, and then suggest potential future scenarios for the use of this technology in different industries and sectors. It is a bit futuristic, but not completely in the realm of science-fiction. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in current and future technologies.
The Innovation Ultimatum is a fantastic beginner friendly book that provides helpful insights into the six major technologies that, in author's opinion, will revolutionize our future. Those are: blockchain, internet of things, artificial intelligence, autonomous machines, virtual and augmented reality, and 5G communication. The book provides a quick overview of the current technological advancements in each technology, and then suggest potential future scenarios for the use of this technology in different industries and sectors. It is a bit futuristic, but not completely in the realm of science-fiction. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in current and future technologies.
December 27, 2022
We cannot try to avoid the future. We must determine the future we want to build and the future we want to avoid.
The six technologies mentioned in the book that will define technology's future are already here, and we must shape them. The book offered a good analysis of the potential impacts, excellent and harmful. My key takeaway was to ensure that an organization defines its key principles to hang on to during the transformation and help guide decisions.
The six technologies mentioned in the book that will define technology's future are already here, and we must shape them. The book offered a good analysis of the potential impacts, excellent and harmful. My key takeaway was to ensure that an organization defines its key principles to hang on to during the transformation and help guide decisions.
September 17, 2022
This book by Steve Brown highlights the transformation that is imminent in the world of business operations & customer delivery.
Steve emphasizes on the 6 strategic technologies that companies, individuals, institutions and governments need to ingrain in their daily operations to meet the future demand & expectations of customers & consumers to survive and thrive.
A recommended read.
Steve emphasizes on the 6 strategic technologies that companies, individuals, institutions and governments need to ingrain in their daily operations to meet the future demand & expectations of customers & consumers to survive and thrive.
A recommended read.
September 12, 2023
Another one I read for my MBA classes. The first part where Brown introduces the technologies was great, but 1 star docked off as I felt the succeeding chapters got a bit repetitive. Nonetheless, learned a lot from this one! It's a great piece that helps normal people like you and me understand how we can move towards the future in a practical way.
April 24, 2021
An amazingly insightful book on six key digital technologies - artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, the internet of things (IoT), autonomous machines, virtual/augmented reality, and 5G communication - that are becoming disruptive and relevant in our world.
June 30, 2020
It is an excellent book. I recommend it to all tech fans
July 17, 2020
An enjoyable read.
December 28, 2020
Lots of innovative business ideas that could actually work in the near future.
May 4, 2021
Excellent, informative book that is also easy and fun to read. It made me quite excited that I'm a programmer and will be involved in these technologies.
June 5, 2021
Everyone should read this, especially if they are confused about innovation these days
January 2, 2021
La IA la AR, blockchain son lo mejor que nos puede pasar para potenciar la humanidad.
(último libro del año, pensé que no llegaba, 70 pags en un día jaja )
(último libro del año, pensé que no llegaba, 70 pags en un día jaja )
January 24, 2021
Lot of enthusiasm, some interesting business ideas (albeit repeated over and over) and a nice and reassuring accent on humanity.
However, the way the book mostly just skips through or completely ignores the problems and dangers and comes with bold statements on what will happen and what will not happen was probably a bit haphazard in February of 2020, but from perspective of world in corona crisis it´s just not totally relevant anymore and it seems that even with the massive impulse of lockdowns no of the bussiness ideas "that are just beyond the corner" managed to took off. What remains relevant and really interesting are the ideas and presentations based upon sensors and one of the few coherent ideas how to actually use blockchain - but once again, we have yet to see a real industry based on that operating in the real world.
However, the way the book mostly just skips through or completely ignores the problems and dangers and comes with bold statements on what will happen and what will not happen was probably a bit haphazard in February of 2020, but from perspective of world in corona crisis it´s just not totally relevant anymore and it seems that even with the massive impulse of lockdowns no of the bussiness ideas "that are just beyond the corner" managed to took off. What remains relevant and really interesting are the ideas and presentations based upon sensors and one of the few coherent ideas how to actually use blockchain - but once again, we have yet to see a real industry based on that operating in the real world.
June 6, 2024
The first section of the book is a 5/5; especially the parts on AI and blockchain. However, the other sections are frequently repetitive and do not really offer anything new to the overall message of the book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews