Global Crises Are Coming, Are You Ready?

Technological, demographic and social environmental changes constantly test the adaptability and flexibility of businesses by changing the features, models and even customer preferences of their products.

For example, the pandemic that we experienced very intensely in the past has devastated the service and production sectors.

I am afraid that barriers to access to clean water and food due to global climate change, global political troubles, intense illegal immigration and even robotization will have similar effects in the future.

But I ask you, did all sectors lose in the pandemic?

For example, what do you think was the situation in the pharmaceutical industry, automotive informatics and canned food?

Should I tell you what's even more interesting?

I called some of my elder advisors. They didn't have time to scratch their heads.

You will say that thousands of people became unemployed from restaurants.

On the other hand, I see that there are still thousands of openings in the logistics sector.

In the words of the manager of a dotcom company I spoke to in Çanakkale, "If e-commerce developed as much as it does in Europe, logisticians would burn tires on the asphalt."

You will say that robotization has already begun and after a while robots will do all those jobs.

It's true, there are things I learned at the age of 50. Working is not just about shedding sweat, as my elders said. There are even more important things to work for and earn.

The first is to be patient.

Because there is no more powerful tool than an idea whose time has come. If you really deserve it, “The train will somehow come to that station one day”.

So one day all crises will end.

Okay, you will be patient, but how will you survive until that day?

The answer to this is simple; change.

Those who adapt easily and fastest to new situations always gain a competitive advantage over others and have the chance to exist in the market.

My mother graduated from university just before she retired. But I remember how difficult it was for him to study in the evenings. I think you can imagine what a brain that loses altitude in remembering goes through in English and mathematics. (Now that I think about it, after being expelled from my doctorate four times and writing three theses at two universities, I was able to finish it 20 years later, just before I retired!)

Many consultants began to actively use remote information transfer. Some have even taken their knowledge to social media. Is it easy to adapt to technology after this age?

Other service sectors were in a similar situation.

This is where the strategy begins.

What can you do to survive in the short, medium and long term with the current talent you have?

What additional skills should you gain in a short time?

It is more or less clear what the future will be like.

Experts say there will be a 20% contraction in food supply.

Moreover, if what is said is true, the Chinese are buying large lands in Africa for future agriculture against global warming.

Well, wouldn't you consider returning to the soil again?

We saw that thousands of people returned to their hometowns during the crisis.

As a result, you have to acquire new skills.

So what do companies need to do to succeed in these ever-changing environments?

In this regard, Steiber and Alänge (2016) foresee three basic strategies;

* Startups must have a big vision that can constantly expand.

Focusing only on your own business will lead to blindness after a while. For example, Google positions itself not as a search engine but as the "World's information organizer". So his vision is to collect and present all kinds of information.

Steve Jobs removed the phrase "computer" from Apple's job description.

Companies have to think about how to open up to international markets even at the establishment stage. For example, when Jack Ma was asked why he chose the name "AliBaba" for his company, he stated that it is known all over the world and comes first in the dictionary according to the Latin Alphabet.

* Must use an open network-based approach for continuous innovation.

The biggest advantage of companies that grow vertically and expand into the distribution channel is their sales force that has direct contact with the customer. Customer feedback also paves the way for new innovations.

However, especially Internet-based technologies; It also offers easier methods for collecting, producing, transferring, storing and using information. For example, customer fan clubs and discussion platforms are some of them.

In addition, portals play an important role in the distribution and distribution of external information about the market and technology within the company. On the other hand, the information collected is at the knowledge level. The information in question; Social and individual mechanisms that will be used in innovation, R&D and decisions at all levels must be established within the company as a matter of urgency.

* One must have startup initiative and flexibility when moving to a new product range.

Product-based or lean organizations can often provide this advantage to businesses.

However, if necessary, it may be better to quit some products completely and focus on a single product, as Steve Jobs did. Let's listen to Jobs on this matter;

"Do you know how many committees we have at Apple? Zero. Organized like a startup."

we became. One person is responsible for the iPhone OS software. One person is responsible for Mac hardware. The company is organized like a startup. We are the biggest startup on the planet. However, the entire group meets for three hours a week. We talk about everything we do."

Don't you think we can increase these options as an individual?

Long story short;

A strategist is a person who adapts to existing conditions other than yes and no and finds the third option.

Referance

Annika Steiber and Sverker Alänge (2016), The Silicon Valley Model, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, pp 11)