The future of work: staying on the positive side of technology

Post author:Thomas Martin
Post published:12 June 2020
Post category:3IR Digitalisation Future Organisation Society Technology Trends Vision

The long-term effects of the Covid-19 crisis are still mainly in the dark, but it is already clear that our experiences with remote work will shape the future of work going forward. Our increased use of technology already leads to cleaner air and lower CO2 emissions, improves work-life balances, and increases collaboration. Technology has always paved the way for a better future. We created it to benefit us. But its use requires cautious decisions that balance the positive and negative…

The 4th industrial revolution is a dangerous myth

Post author:Thomas Martin
Post published:8 June 2020
Post category:3IR Future Society Technology Trends VUCA

The fourth Industrial Revolution has not started yet. We are still in the Integration Phase of the Third Industrial Revolution. Not recognising this may mislead and prevent us from understanding the true nature and potential about what is happening at the moment. The false start into the 4th industrial revolution The possibilities and automation potential of the technologies currently at our hand, including AI, IoT, and robotics are astounding. There are so astounding that some suspect the beginning of a…

Future of logistics report released

Post author:Thomas Martin
Post published:23 March 2020
Post category:Economy Foresight Future Globalisation Technology

Background The report builds on a 2017 study issued by the German Logistics Association BVL. The BVL Singapore members wanted to review, update it and especially add the Asian perspective. Thomas Martin from Forward Intelligence Group created an initial trend map from the report that served as an input to a workshop conducted with the BVL Singapore members. In that workshop, the team discussed and aligned their views on how the industry works and will evolve in Asia. As a…

Is the Balkanisation of democracies a consequence of increasing individuality?

Post author:Thomas Martin
Post published:29 October 2017
Post category:Economy Individualisation Politics Society Trends

Catalan just failed in its attempt to secede from Spain. Many other territories, even in the EU are at risk. In all cases, groups of people want more autonomy or establish an independent country. There are at least two different drivers: Wrong borders. Borders that were drawn by (colonial) powers irrespective of ethnic realities that force people to live together that were not meant to live together. The most prominent case that gave this development a name is the Balkan. Today…

Edge execution requires guidance – an example from the US military

Post author:Thomas Martin
Post published:28 November 2014
Post category:Agile Decision-making Present

Edge execution requires guidance - an example from the US military Edge execution avoids long decision-making cycles and allows organizations to react to new developments quickly. It requires the delegation of decision making to font-line people who are likely to encounter new developments first. Traditionally, the new development would be reported up the command chain, probably altered in process and then subjected to a consent and planning-based decision-making process before the final decision is eventually communicated down for execution again.…

A call for agile strategy development

Post author:Thomas Martin
Post published:12 August 2013
Post category:Agile Strategy

A call for agile strategy development Globalization, fiercer competition and shorter innovation cycles challenge classic intermittent strategy development approaches. Agile methods turn strategy development into a continuous activity ensures alignment with changed situations, improves execution and reduces wasting resources in pursuit of obsolete objectives. Every year the executive offices are suddenly empty. It's "strategic planning off-site" time: Review last year’s plan, do a SWOT, define the objectives for next year, write a long strategic plan and hand it to those…