Why Most Transformations Fail: The Difference Between Renewal and True Absorption
By
Richard F Adams
Summary
The article argues that most transformation programmes fail because they are merely renewals—replacing systems without changing the underlying organization or its assumptions. The author contends that the real challenge is not invention but absorption, and that AI will follow the same disappointing path unless organizations learn to truly absorb and integrate new technologies rather than just layering them on top of existing structures. The piece advocates for a shift from renewal to genuine transformation, where technology becomes a "nervous system" rather than just a stack of apps.
Source
bskyWhy Most Transformations Fail: The Difference Between Renewal and True Absorptionrichardfadams.substack.comKey quotes
· 4 pulledMost transformation programmes fail for a simple reason, they are not transformations. They are renewals.
They replace systems without changing the organisation that produced them. They upgrade the parts and preserve the assumptions.
The problem is not invention. It is absorption and until that changes, AI will follow the same path as everything else: impressive pilots, disappointing reality.
The next level of tech is not a stack of apps. It is a nervous system.
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