The New Normal: explore the limits of the digital world

by Peter Hinssen

Welcome to the New IT and the Internet have completely altered traditional communication in the healthcare industry. Patients are looking for information coming from a wide range of sources. Products and experiences are being discussed on the internet and shared across social media platforms. UCB is one of the first biopharma companies to acknowledge IT as core to its business strategy and to let the patient take the lead in the online conversation. This book is about the trend spotting and creative thinking needed to prepare ourselves for the world of possibilities awaiting us in the big ocean of the New Normal. Talking about the digital society could soon make you sound old and out of date - such is the pace of change. Advancement in technology is creating a 'new normal' where relationships with consumers are increasingly in a digital form. Businesses need to reinvent themselves to create new interactive business models. Technology is no longer an enabler. It has become a game-changer. Don't even think for a moment that we have arrived in the Digital World. We're probably, at best, halfway. This isn't a discussion about the glass being half-full or half-empty. The past 25 years were about technology getting into the hands of consumers. The next 25 years will see consumers, young and old, making technology part of everyday life. Digital has become the New Normal. An entrepreneur, advisor, lecturer and writer, Peter Hinssen (1969) is one of Europe's most sought-after thought leaders on the impact of technology on society and business. He is frequently called upon to lead seminars and consult on issues related to the adoption of technology by consumers, the impact of the networked digital society, and the Fusion between business and IT.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Technology, Society, Economics, Management

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2010

Reviews

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I don't like much the price (approx $50 for those 200 pages) and the "super nice expensive glossy paper", which has bad readability, especially with train lamps (too many reflections).

I like those bright sketchy images. Nice support for the language the book is written. My IT colleagues (I'm also IT) are afraid that directors of board will be too crazy about new high tech after reading this book. But I think, that this book is able to tell that company CEOs and directors with their language, how to catch the tech train. Times have changed, people have quicker internet at home than in their office, they have mobile with more power in their pocket then office notebook on a table.

IT guys knows about that new world. But you cannot change whole company from bottom to top. You need the help from the top. And this book can help your top directors to understand, what to do not to miss the digi era.

I like the idea on the end of the book - run, win, change. What to do to be able run with others. What to do to win in your segment. And winners - they are changing segment for them. They are making own rules.

[Bram · Rating 1 out of 5]

Content of very low quality. Many, many, many mistakes and bad examples.
- One chapter explains that customers do not accept mistakes in the new world; the next chapter explains that "good enough" is sufficient.
- The explanation on sample rate on MP3 is utterly wrong.
- His vision on speed versus exactness is based on a false dichotomy.
- Surprised to read that business processes are considered to be static and that middleware contains intelligence.
- Explanation on Einstein and quantum theory not entirely correct. As a matter of a fact, it is not even clear why the author starts speaking about quantum mechanics.
- You can't install a document on a smartphone (duh)
- You can't send a gmail (duh)
- ...

His book on Business/IT Fusion is better, fortunately.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book at the time of publication. With hindsight, I can say it gave a pretty good prediction of what was going to happen in the next 5 years.

[Ludo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and a nice enough recapitulation of some current trends in IT and how technology is shaping the world we know. It is more of a 'get a feel for the topic' book than an 'in-depth philosophical essay'. The suggestions - for how to deal with this new trend in IT and challenge for the IT department - are rather limited. But in all: a good read. The chapter on 'total accountability' might fuel the discussion on the pervasiveness of wanting to measure everything. I personally think that this can lead to the 'death' of the subject (in a psychological 'sense') which might exacerbate current problems on the workfloor like stress, aggression etc...some re-thinking and prudency is advisable.

[Niels Bergervoet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter Hinssen weet veel van wat er gebeurt in silicon valley en de wereld van technologische vooruitgang. Hij schetst helder de grote lijnen en heeft het vaak bij het juiste eind. Maar als technoloog/futuroloog zit hij er soms ook wat naast. En je begint nu te merken dat een boek over nieuwe technologie een korte levensduur heeft. Zes jaar na publicatie begint heg behoordlijk verouderd aan te voelen.

[Robert Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it flowed really well for an easy and enjoyable read. The thoughts presented in the book are very valuable in terms of understanding the shift in thinking related to the impact of digital devices and advances in technology.

[Kristof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duidelijk en down-to-earth boek met interessante inzichten over hoe de digitale wereld geevolueerd is en nu meer en meer in ons leven zal vergroeien. Hoe kan een bedrijf hierop reageren en welke effecten zal dit hebben.

Aanrader

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the digital world, we have cross the half-point and Peter explores the new limits. I read that book without interruption and found it an eye-opener

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid commentary on the impact of mobility and IT consumerization. Not much new insight relative to existing information.

[Matthieu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Verhelderend en interessante kijk op de digitalisering. Groot pluspunt: duidelijk gestructureerd en mooi vormgegeven boek.

[Mikaël · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het was me net iets teveel op bedrijven gericht. Los daarvan geeft het een goed overzicht van de drijvende krachten in de digitale wereld en de gevolgen daarvan.

[Elie De Brauwer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book, a very beautiful book too. I especially found the section on the T-shaped vs I-shaped profiles the most interesting of this book.