In this special episode, we honor the legendary Charles Handy, philosopher and author of The Second Curve. Recorded after his stroke, Handy shares timeless wisdom on life, leadership, change, and the importance of reinventing ourselves before it’s too late.
In the age of AI and automation, the principles of Technological Taylorism are reshaping the workforce. Drawing parallels to Frederick Taylor’s scientific management, this article examines how jobs are deconstructed into smaller tasks, the rise of workforce surveillance, and the risks to freelancers and middle management. Featuring insights from experts like Paul Daugherty and Yossi Sheffi, it questions how AI’s efficiency-driven evolution will impact job creation, economic growth, and societal balance.
In this final of a 4-part episode, Rita McGrath discusses her upcoming book focused on how organisations can design structures that empower decision-making at all levels, embracing a ‘permissionless’ approach to innovation.
Harnessing Global Creativity for Innovat The Power of Collective Intelligence with Simon Hill
Ian and the host, Aidan McCullen, explore how companies past and present have navigated the transition from the ‘first curve’ – a state of established practices and security – to the ‘second curve’ of innovation and adaptation in the face of new technologies and markets. They discuss examples of organisations like HR Block, SGI (Silicon Graphics), and Volvo, and how they’ve managed to pivot or struggled with these shifts.
Ian offers profound insights into the societal move towards a knowledge economy, the importance of venture capital in disruptive innovation, consumer empowerment, and the geographical shift in economic power towards the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, they discuss the importance of organisational culture in adapting to change, the challenges of measuring success on the second curve, and the personal and societal impacts of these transitions.
The conversation concludes by emphasising the need for individuals and organisations to embrace uncertainty, leverage existing competencies, and prepare for a future that prioritises hyper-effectiveness and adaptive skills.
00:00 Introduction to the Second Curve
00:31 Understanding the Shift from First to Second Curve
00:56 The Impact of the Second Curve on Organizations
01:44 The Second Curve and the Post-Industrial Economy
02:10 The Role of Knowledge in the Second Curve
02:48 The Power of Disruptive Innovation
03:03 The Shift in Consumer Power
03:34 The Geographic Transformation of the Second Curve
04:36 The Importance of People in the Second Curve
05:31 The Second Curve Mindset
06:25 The Dilemma of the Second Curve
09:02 The Role of Technology in the Second Curve
15:06 The Impact of the Second Curve on Individuals
18:24 The Future of the Second Curve
48:19 Conclusion: Embracing the Second Curve
Find ian here: http://ianmorrison.com
Flex is a manifesto for living and working on your terms. It means looking at the established, rigid ways of doing things and asking: ‘Is this really working for me?’ If the answer to that question is ‘No’ then read on, because this book is for you.
We welcome the author of Flex: Reinventing Work for a Smarter, Happier Life, Annie Auerbach
In the late 1800s, clergyman and scholar William Pollard said, “Learning and innovation go hand […]
Woot.com It (Education) is headed towards a crisis of sorts, where it simply no longer […]
http://www.webnebber.com/kitchen-sink/cannibal-marshmallows-shirt/ There is a great anecdote that goes as follows… A big corporation had hired […]