Winning in the Digital Age
Seven Building Blocks of Successful Digital Transformation
By Nitin Seth
CEO of Incedo Inc.
Seven Building Blocks of Successful Digital Transformation
Digital is a mega-trend of our times, but it is a large and complex change that is not easy to manage. In this book, Nitin answers key questions on how to win the digital age:
Nitin brings clarity to the digital transformation process, breaking it down into seven building blocks and presenting how best to master them based on his experience both at large global firms and digital natives.
This section is focused on understanding what is different in this VUCA world/ Digital Age, why enterprises are facing challenges to adapt, and what new principles and approaches they should consider.
This section looks at the key shifts happening in various industries along with some common themes that I have observed while serving clients. Enterprises must anchor their business and technology strategies on these shifts to realize the full potential of digital.
This section focuses on the seven key building blocks of digital technology stack which plays a critical role in the execution of digital transformation.
In this section, I emphasize on the need of the enterprises to capitalize on Global Delivery Model. The Global Delivery Centres must be seen as Revenue and Innovation centres to make transformation successful and gain competitive advantage.
In this section, I have gone deeper into the how of digital execution and explore the organizational elements (including culture) that are necessary to support successful digital transformation.
Digital age and this VUCA world are a great test for leaders. This section lays out how leaders can manage duality in this digital age which is critical to succeed as leaders.
In this last section, I want to change track and take the perspective of a young professional looking to build a career in the digital age.
Nitin is an accomplished industry leader with a unique combination of experiences as a Global Manager, Entrepreneur, and Management Consultant. Nitin is the Chief Executive Officer of Incedo Inc, a high growth Technology services firm focused on Digital Transformation and Analytics. Prior to Incedo, Nitin has held several top management positions. He was Chief Operating Officer of Flipkart, India’s largest ECommerce company; Managing Director and Country Head for Fidelity International in India, where he also led Global Offshore Operations and Business Strategy for Fidelity’s International business; and Director of McKinsey’s Global Knowledge Centre in India, where he developed many new knowledge and analytics based capabilities that have had far reaching industry impact.
Nitin has been elected twice to the NASSCOM Executive Council, was a Founder & Chairperson of NASSCOM’s Global Capability Centers (GCC) Council and was the Chairperson of the NASSCOM Regional Council (NRC) in Haryana, India. He is as an avid speaker in the areas of leadership, entrepreneurship, business transformation, technology and spirituality, and writes a blog called “Nitin’s Fundas”.
Nitin holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, where he was awarded Chairman’s gold Medal for standing first in the MBA program, and a degree in engineering (B.Tech) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
He lives in New Jersey, USA with his wife and three beautiful children.
The book demystifies everything related to digital transformation very well - provides the big picture as also the deep dives on all critical aspects for successfully driving it. I liked the “Seven building blocks for successful digital transformation” and see them as practical enablers to drive transformation!
Nitin’s unique combination of experiences with McKinsey, Fidelity, Flipkart and now, Incedo provides a very compelling view of the digital world. He leverages his experience to bring out basic questions of what success looks like and what it takes to be there. These experiences are directly applicable in many of the situations where enterprises are challenged in their digital journeys and can resort to success recipes which Nitin has laid out very well.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would recommend this book to all business leaders and also the young professionals!
Seth has meticulously crafted an invaluable handbook for those who wish to structure their thinking and action on a digital transformation program. These could be business leaders, civil servants, students, entrepreneurs or curious general readers. Distinctive insights are borne from experience: Seth has witnessed success and failure, entrepreneurial and institutional cultures, local and global applications, and understands how digital can transform and disrupt. The entire expanse of the digital journey across strategy, technology, organisation and leadership are explored, and lessons shared in a usable manner. He brings this to bear in a patient, well structured discussion, sharing lessons learnt from failing well, yet resilient enough to persevere. A rewarding read.
In the VUCA world, experiences and experiments – both successful and failed ones – are equally important. Nitin, with years of phenomenal work under his belt, understands this well and his book brings you some of the best global anecdotes of the industry intricately wrapped in the most fundamental theories of our world. Whether you’re a practitioner, an enthusiast or an explorer, this easy-to-understand yet impactful book will take you on a journey which will leave you nostalgic, thinking and inspired. All in all, a good book being released at a great time – highly recommended!
Rarely do you find a book which is as relevant for the new intern as it is for the CEO. Nitin has managed to string his years of experience working at the intersection of technology and strategy to craft a framework which is equally relevant for a CEO who is wrestling with a long term business plan or a new intern who is creating a roadmap for a 30 yr career.
This book is a must-read for any world-class business leader who demands nothing, but excellence. Digital disruption is the single greatest opportunity and threat for every company on this planet. Without equivocation, I can say that ‘Winning in the Digital Age’ is THE roadmap to success. Nitin Seth is a truly extraordinary, once-in-generation CEO.
