Last year alone, ADAPT interviewed over 10,000 local C-level leaders. We hosted 2,300 executives across six national Edge events.
For our 5th annual Digital Edge journey, we gathered 140 national heads of digital and IT who are responsible for identifying, realising and scaling the benefits of digital and for bringing their organisation along on the journey.
We captured the raw thoughts of digital leaders on topics trending in our changing technology and business landscape. We left, after two days feeling inspired and equipped with great insight into what these buzzwords really mean to industry leaders and their organisations.
Word(s): Artificial Intelligence
ADAPT defines artificial intelligence and AI systems as the application of learning algorithms to analyse and apply deep learning for problem-solving, interpreting events, and automating actions.
Thought leader: Douglas Ross, Partner and MD at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Fear
Thought leader: Simon Waller, Digital Champion, Author and Advisor
Meaning to them: Love
Thought leader: Vincent Pierce, GM at Westpac Next
Meaning to them: Non-sentient
Thought leader: Toby Heaton-Armstrong, Head of Digital Technology at Dexus Property Group
Meaning to them: Top of the hype cycle
Thought leader: Ines Almeida, Digital Transformation Advisor at ANZ
Meaning to them: Personalisation
Thought leader: Phil Potloff, Evangelist at AWS
Meaning to them: Early
Thought leader: Sherif Mansour, Distinguished Product Manager at Atlassian
Meaning to them: Not there yet
Thought leader: Paul McNamara, Partner and Managing Director at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Opportunity
Thought leader: Pontus Siren, Partner at Innosight
Meaning to them: The future
Thought leader: Kerrie Campbell, CIO at Flinders University
Meaning to them: Coming quick and valuable to the human spirit
Thought leader: Dr Ian Oppermann, Chief Data Scientist and CEO NSW Data Analytics Centre at NSW Government
Meaning to them: Helps us move towards that utopian goal of the 15-hour working week
Word: Mindset
ADAPT defines a mindset as an established set of attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs held by someone about themselves or others. A mindset underlies behaviour.
Thought leader: Simon Waller, Digital Champion, Author and Advisor
Meaning to them: Change
Thought leader: Vincent Pierce, GM at Westpac Next
Meaning to them: Deep change
Thought leader: Kerrie Campbell, CIO at Flinders University
Meaning to them: Definitely has to be new, fresh and ever-changing
Thought leader: Ines Almeida, Digital Transformation Advisor at ANZ
Meaning to them: Values
Thought leader: Phil Potloff, Evangelist at AWS
Meaning to them: Shifting
Thought leader: Douglas Ross, Partner and MD at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Changing
Thought leader: Paul Shetler, Digital Transformation Expert and Partner at AccelerateHQ
Meaning to them: Important
Thought leader: Sherif Mansour, Distinguished Product Manager at Atlassian
Meaning to them: Open
Thought leader: Paul McNamara, Partner and Managing Director at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Challenging
Thought leader: Pontus Siren, Partner at Innosight
Meaning to them: Needs to change
Word: Legacy
ADAPT defines legacy as outdated operations, applications and systems that are incompatible with new systems and technologies. Legacy data formats, processes, and ways of working are cited by ADAPT as the greatest business and technology challenges in today’s Digital Age.
Thought leader: Vincent Pierce, GM at Westpac Next
Meaning to them: Yesterday
Thought leader: Dr Ian Oppermann, Chief Data Scientist and CEO NSW Data Analytics Centre at NSW Government
Meaning to them: We really need to acknowledge it, but move on.
Thought leader: Kerrie Campbell, CIO at Flinders University
Meaning to them: Old ways of thinking, bad habits
Thought leader: Toby Heaton-Armstrong, Head of Digital Technology at Dexus Property Group
Meaning to them: Problems
Thought leader: Ines Almeida, Digital Transformation Advisor at ANZ
Meaning to them: Challenge
Thought leader: Phil Potloff, Evangelist at AWS
Meaning to them: Old
Thought leader: Douglas Ross, Partner and MD at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Old
Thought leader: Paul Shetler, Digital Transformation Expert and Partner at AccelerateHQ
Meaning to them: Cringe
Thought leader: Paul McNamara, Partner and Managing Director at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Boring
Thought leader: Pontus Siren, Partner at Innosight
Meaning to them: A struggle
Thought leader: Simon Waller, Digital Champion, Author and Advisor
Meaning to them: That’s a hard one, my mind went blank
Word: Culture
ADAPT defines culture to be the behaviours of organisational members when collaborating with each other in pursuit of action plans, mission statements and business goals. The outcomes of these efforts are often measured by Key Performance Indicators in achieving customer satisfaction.
Thought leader: Simon Waller, Digital Champion, Author and Advisor
Meaning to them: Trust
Thought leader: Vincent Pierce, GM at Westpac Next
Meaning to them: The sum of thousands of conversations
Thought leader: Kerrie Campbell, CIO at Flinders University
Meaning to them: Essential, changing, morphing
Thought leader: Ines Almeida, Digital Transformation Advisor at ANZ
Meaning to them: Overrated
Thought leader: Phil Potloff, Evangelist at AWS
Meaning to them: Driving change
Thought leader: Douglas Ross, Partner and MD at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Driven by behaviours
Thought leader: Paul McNamara, Partner and Managing Director at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Transformational
Thought leader: Pontus Siren, Partner at Innosight
Meaning to them: Underlies everything
Word: Fresh thinking
ADAPT defines fresh thinking as an approach to problems or situations that are new, different, non-traditional, and innovative. This type of creativity is necessary to achieve a competitive advantage.
Thought leader: Simon Waller, Digital Champion, Author and Advisor
Meaning to them: Happy
Thought leader: Vincent Pierce, GM at Westpac Next
Meaning to them: Today
Thought leader: Kerrie Campbell, CIO at Flinders University
Meaning to them: Innovation, transformation, vulnerability
Thought leader: Toby Heaton-Armstrong, Head of Digital Technology at Dexus Property Group
Meaning to them: Vital
Thought leader: Ines Almeida, Digital Transformation Advisor at ANZ
Meaning to them: Creativity
Thought leader: Phil Potloff, Evangelist at AWS
Meaning to them: Problem-centred
Thought leader: Douglas Ross, Partner and MD at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Risky
Thought leader:Sherif Mansour, Distinguished Product Manager at Atlassian
Meaning to them: Graduates
Thought leader: Paul McNamara, Partner and Managing Director at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Exciting
Thought leader: Pontus Siren, Partner at Innosight
Meaning to them: Hugely important
Word: Human Experience
ADAPT defines the human experience as the way organisations approach every aspect of engagement with employees, customers and prospects. Interacting with them on their terms, when and how they want, regardless of role, location, or technology as part of their 24-hour digital journey.
Thought leader: Vincent Pierce, GM at Westpac Next
Meaning to them: The only kind there is
Thought leader: Simon Waller, Digital Champion, Author and Advisor
Meaning to them: Love
Thought leader: Toby Heaton-Armstrong, Head of Digital Technology at Dexus Property Group
Meaning to them: Vitally important
Thought leader: Ines Almeida, Digital Transformation Advisor at ANZ
Meaning to them: Priority
Thought leader: Phil Potloff, Evangelist at AWS
Meaning to them: The core
Thought leader: Douglas Ross, Partner and MD at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Ugly
Thought leader: Paul Shetler, Digital Transformation Expert and Partner at AccelerateHQ
Meaning to them: We all have one
Thought leader: Sherif Mansour, Distinguished Product Manager at Atlassian
Meaning to them: Emotional
Thought leader: Paul McNamara, Partner and Managing Director at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Inspiring
Thought leader: Pontus Siren, Partner at Innosight
Meaning to them: Foundational
Word: Buzzwords
ADAPT defines buzzwords as words, phrases, or expressions from a subject area or technical context that are used popularly for the sake of hype and impressing peers.
Thought leader: Simon Waller, Digital Champion, Author and Advisor
Meaning to them: Many
Thought leader: Sherif Mansour, Distinguished Product Manager at Atlassian
Meaning to them: We were joking at dinner last night not to use the word transformational, that is called the T-word, so saying the T word. Sounds like an insult or a rude word.
Thought leader: Phil Potloff, Evangelist at AWS
Meaning to them: Transformation
Thought leader: Pontus Siren, Partner at Innosight
Meaning to them: Overused
Thought leader: Douglas Ross, Partner and MD at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Genuinely boring
Thought leader: Ines Almeida, Digital Transformation Advisor at ANZ
Meaning to them: Innovation
Thought leader: Paul McNamara, Partner and Managing Director at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Distraction
Thought leader: Vincent Pierce, GM at Westpac Next
Meaning to them: Bullshit
Word: Digital
ADAPT defines digital as the use of the web, mobile, and social channels by organisations to deliver content, engage with customers, and complete transactions. Digital creates connectivity with customers to replace analog signals and telecommunications.
Thought leader: Simon Waller, Digital Champion, Author and Advisor
Meaning to them: Opportunity
Thought leader: Vincent Pierce, GM at Westpac Next
Meaning to them: Ubiquitous
Thought leader: Kerrie Campbell, CIO at Flinders University
Meaning to them: Confusing, needed and very very relevant
Thought leader: Phil Potloff, Evangelist at AWS
Meaning to them: Transformation
Thought leader: Douglas Ross, Partner and MD at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Genuinely boring and confusing
Thought leader: Paul Shetler, Digital Transformation Expert and Partner at AccelerateHQ
Meaning to them: Cult
Thought leader: Paul McNamara, Partner and Managing Director at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Fast-paced
Thought leader: Pontus Siren, Partner at Innosight
Meaning to them: The future
Thought leader: Ines Almeida, Digital Transformation Advisor at ANZ
Meaning to them: Just a word
Word: Edge Computing
ADAPT defines edge computing as an environment managing distributed networks of IoT devices, edge devices or other connected devices enabling the processing of data closer to the source of data. These billions of devices reduce latency and provide real time data. Also sometimes known as the edge of the network or fog computing. Real world IoT applications examples are traffic light sensors of smart cities, self-driving cars and many other emerging applications.
Thought leader: Douglas Ross, Partner and MD at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Doesn’t really make any sense to most normal people, so confusing
Thought leader: Vincent Pierce, GM at Westpac Next
Meaning to them: Probably not at the centre
Thought leader: Simon Waller, Digital Champion, Author and Advisor
Meaning to them: Innovation
Thought leader: Kerrie Campbell, CIO at Flinders University
Meaning to them: The way of the future is transitioning and valuable
Thought leader: Ines Almeida, Digital Transformation Advisor at ANZ
Meaning to them: Interesting
Thought leader: Phil Potloff, Evangelist at AWS
Meaning to them: More powerful than ever
Thought leader: Paul Shetler, Digital Transformation Expert and Partner at AccelerateHQ
Meaning to them: Interesting
Thought leader: Sherif Mansour, Distinguished Product Manager at Atlassian
Meaning to them: Future
Thought leader: Paul McNamara, Partner and Managing Director at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Distracting
Thought leader: Pontus Siren, Partner at Innosight
Meaning to them: Fast
Word: Blockchain
ADAPT defines blockchain technology to be any system of distributed ledger storing information on transactions and transaction history, participants of transactions and uniquely identify transactions shared in a network. Blockchain enables any user with access to trace back transaction history and its participants. Organisations leverage this technology to validate transactions, improve supply chain transparency with transaction data and creating smart contracts. It was popularised recently with the applications of bitcoin transactions.
Thought leader: Simon Waller, Digital Champion, Author and Advisor
Meaning to them: Unknown
Thought leader: Pontus Siren, Partner at Innosight
Meaning to them: Yet to mature
Thought leader: Kerrie Campbell, CIO at Flinders University
Meaning to them: Coming
Thought leader: Toby Heaton-Armstrong, Head of Digital Technology at Dexus Property Group
Meaning to them: I think it’s gonna be interesting where that leads
Thought leader: Ines Almeida, Digital Transformation Advisor at ANZ
Meaning to them: High potential
Thought leader: Phil Potloff, Evangelist at AWS
Meaning to them: Limitless use cases
Thought leader: Douglas Ross, Partner and MD at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: The fact that it came from nothing, nobody even knows where it came from is sort of fun
Thought leader: Paul Shetler, Digital Transformation Expert and Partner at AccelerateHQ
Meaning to them: Oversold
Thought leader: Sherif Mansour, Distinguished Product Manager at Atlassian
Meaning to them: Is amazing, a lot of hype, little application
Thought leader: Paul McNamara, Partner and Managing Director at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Can be game-changing
Thought leader: Vincent Pierce, GM at Westpac Next
Meaning to them: Distributed ledger technology. Let’s go
Word: Bitcoin
ADAPT defines bitcoin as a digital currency or ‘cryptocurrency’ based in algorithms which operate independently of a central bank or administrator, that can be sent independently by users on a peer bitcoin network. It was invented in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto.
Thought leader: Simon Waller, Digital Champion, Author and Advisor
Meaning to them: Dying
Thought leader: Vincent Pierce, GM at Westpac Next
Meaning to them: Probably not what I’d invest in
Thought leader: Dr Ian Oppermann, Chief Data Scientist and CEO NSW Data Analytics Centre at NSW Government
Meaning to them: An interesting technology
Thought leader: Kerrie Campbell, CIO at Flinders University
Meaning to them: Expensive, forward thinking
Thought leader: Ines Almeida, Digital Transformation Advisor at ANZ
Meaning to them: Interesting
Thought leader: Douglas Ross, Partner and MD at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Sort of fun not going to be anything in the future
Thought leader: Paul Shetler, Digital Transformation Expert and Partner at AccelerateHQ
Meaning to them: The only interesting thing on the blockchain
Thought leader: Paul McNamara, Partner and Managing Director at Adaptovate
Meaning to them: Buzzword
Thought leader: Pontus Siren, Partner at Innosight
Meaning to them: A version of the future
Thought leader: Phil Potloff, Evangelist at AWS
Meaning to them: Stay away from it
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