byGeorge F. Black
President / CEO
RSA
Technologicaladvances are disruptive. For a century, we have been inundated with new technologies.

Impacts of new technology are not truly understood until that technology reaches mass adoption. The automobile progressed from being the rich man's toy to being a pervasive influence on our lives and environment over a 45-year period. The telephone took 31 years to reach mass usage; the personal computer — 14 years.

Anyone want to guess how long the Internet took to reach critical mass? How long did it take to be embraced by the masses, to be something that even the technologically deprived would be willing to suffer the pain of learning?

If you guessed FOUR YEARS, you are right. FOUR YEARS to spread around the world like wildfire . . . and all the while disrupting our business and personal lives.

Business Disruption

Corporations large and small are being driven headlong into the malaise of technology by the rapid growth of Internet use. It has disrupted their businesses.

Their customers demand access via the web. Their vendors force them to do business via a portal. In addition, employees both use and abuse the web's capabilities. Technologically backward companies will not be able to attract young, energetic and innovative talent.

Where to Look for Guidance

All businesses are the targets of vendors who only wish to sell what they have to sell, and many businesses find themselves making decisions more based upon the skill of the salesperson rather than the ROI from the purchase.

The disruptive natures of these technological advances create diversions that can greatly impact a business operation. Those who survive the disruption may truly find efficiencies and competitive advantage from the technology.

The one indisputable truth, however, is that the rate of change and disruption will accelerate, not decrease. The disruption will continue. Companies already find themselves in business failure due to these disruptions.

At RSA, our job is first to help clients deal with and capitalize on the challenge / opportunity of technology disruption, and second to ensure that they are able concentrate on their core business.