book

What Matters Next

by Kate O'Neill

January 2025

Intermediate to advanced

272 pages

6h 52m

English

Wiley

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Our Journey ContinuesThe Now-Next ContinuumHarms of Action vs. InactionCommitment to PurposeFreeing Ourselves for the FutureThe Next ChallengeFuture Ready, Tech Ready, Human Ready
The Extreme Approaches to Strategic LeadershipLongtermism: Overstepping the PresentShortsightedness: Sacrificing the FutureIntegrating the ExtremesTransformation and InnovationThe Challenge of AccelerationThe Dawn of the Acceleration EraAcceleration as a ForceAcceleration as a CostBalancing Economic Growth and Human Well-BeingAcceleration as a PhilosophyMove Fast, but Don’t Break HumanityEthical Acceleration: The Need for Balanced SpeedMissteps and OversightsThe Human Impact of Tech DecisionsCorrecting CourseAvoiding the Pitfalls of LongtermismThe Challenge of Scale and ConnectednessMaking Human-Aligned Decisions at ScaleThe Two ScalesThe Power of ConnectednessAvoiding the Pitfalls of ShortsightednessThe Consequences of ShortsightednessInsight and ForesightAsking Meaningful QuestionsThe Challenge of HesitationHalf-Hearted CommitmentsThe Rippling Consequences of FailureCommit to EvolvingThe Clarifying Power of the Now-Next ContinuumDecision Tool: Questions, Insights, Foresights, Adaptive Strategy

Vision and Agility: The Netflix MiracleThe Power of Leading with Vision in a Too-Fast WorldUncertainty Is EverywhereThe Paradox and Principle of UncertaintyThe Human Experience and Meaning MakingFrom Uncertainty to ProbabilityThe Practicality of ProbabilityTackling Uncertainty as a TeamQuestions for Future VisioningClarifying QuestionsPreparatory QuestionsPrioritizing QuestionsThe Calibration QuestionFrom Questions to ActionsFuture-Ready, Not “Future-Proof”What Future-Readiness RequiresThe Reality of Future-Ready LeadershipBalancing Present and FutureStrategic OptimismPurposeful Future Visioning Leads to Strategic ClarityTools of Future Visioning: Prediction, Forecasting, Insights, Foresights
Deciding, Fast and SlowSlow Down to Speed UpFrom Quick Fixes to Insight-Driven StrategiesDeciding to Decide BetterGuiding Future-Ready Decision-Making with the Insights-Foresights ModelThe Inquiry Stage: Meaningful Framing QuestionsThe Power of Meaningful QuestionsI Don’t KnowThe Anatomy of a Good QuestionShaping the Future with QuestionsTool: Mining for Meaningful QuestionsThe Gathering Stage: Collecting Partial AnswersThe Gift of Partial AnswersFrom Conflicting Answers to InsightsFinding Insights Amid Partial AnswersThe Synthesis Stage: Timeless InsightsTimeless Thinking with InsightsWhat Are Insights, Really?The Power of Insights in Decision-MakingInsights, Foresights, and EmpathyA Tool for Your Journey: The Insights InventoryThe Context Mapping Stage: Context, Externalities, and TrendsMonitoring and Understanding External TrendsTrends as Bankable ForesightsTracking ExternalitiesThe Decision Point Stage: Timely Actions and Bankable ForesightsThe Beauty of Bankable ForesightsInsights Inform ForesightsBonus Step: Using AI for BrainstormingCircling BackData, Insights, and IntuitionThe Deceptive Duality of DataFalse Equivalencies: Correlation versus CausationCherry-Picking: Seeing What We Want to SeeTrustworthy DataMeasure and AnticipateEthical Decision-Making in an AI-Led WorldBalancing Optimization and User NeedsThe Limits of AI Systems in Decision-MakingImplications across SectorsDecision Tool: Building to Bankable Foresights
The Harms of Action vs. the Harms of InactionExisting Models for Ethical Decision MakingThrough-Line Thinking: Working through Past Actions to Understand the FutureEcosystem Effects and Through-Line ThinkingMisalignment and Consequences at ScaleEcosystem Effects in Tech DecisionsUnintended or Unanticipated? Unexpected or Unforeseen?Perverse IncentivesTech MongoosesMisconceptions About Ethics Meet the AI AgeDemystifying How We Talk and Think About AIKnowing Our Own MindsThinking LanguageThe Embodiment of IntelligenceApplying the Strengths of Human and Machine IntelligenceWhat Humans Decide vs. What Machines DecideWhy Decisions Involving AI and Data Systems Are ComplexTechnical Debt, Societal Technical Debt, Ethical Debt, Decision DebtEthical AI Requires Transparency and ExplainabilityThe Importance of Explainability in AI InnovationExplainability Beyond BiasAsk the Hard QuestionsTransparency in AIDehumanizing ImplicationsThe Accountability GapAI’s Promise and PerilHuman-Centered AI along the Now-Next ContinuumData Systems at ScalePutting Privacy in PerspectiveDigital Twins and DeepfakesTrusting AI to Know When AI Can’t Be TrustedThe Ethics of PersonhoodWhack-a-Mole RegulationsAhead of RegulationsThe Climate Footprint of AI SystemsNow What? Now-NextA Call to Action for Human-Friendly Tech LeadershipDecision Tool: Harms Consideration Checklist
Harnessing Technology for Human BettermentTech that Uplifts HumanityLanguage as a Key to MeaningLanguage as a Tool of Strategic Purpose and ClarityAI, Meaning, and ProbabilityLanguage Is a Human Tool for MeaningThe Role of Improbability in MeaningThe Ongoing Importance of Meaning-MakingExternal vs. Internal PurposeWe Can’t Leave Meaning up to MachinesOutput vs. OutcomeMaking Tech Human-FriendlyCreativityCreativity in ConstraintCreative BlocksThe Songwriting ApproachThe Boldness to RethinkCuriosityOutsourcing ThoughtCycles of InfluenceCuriosity: The Antidote to AI MalaiseCollaboration and PlayDesigning for the Human ScaleBalancing Automation and EmpathyAutomation beyond EfficiencyThe New First Rule of TechnologyUniversal Basic MeaningThe Purposeful Role of Business LeadershipFuture VisioningFrom Amsterdam to Your OrganizationTech Humanist Leadership for Ethical AccelerationThe Path to Purpose-Driven GrowthEthical Acceleration in PracticeNavigating SetbacksGrowth without PurposePurpose, Principles, and ProfitLearning to See TomorrowWhat Matters/What Is Likely to Matter: Future-Readiness through AgilityDecision Tool: What’s Your “Gift for Tomorrow” Project?Note
Jeans 2.0Unpacking the Meaning of TransformationPersonal Transformations: The Heart of ChangeProfessional Transformations: The Business of ChangeExperience-Driven TransformationBeyond Digital TransformationWhy Might Transformation Projects Fail?Digital Transformation Canvas 2.0Transformation at ScaleMoving Past Reactivity toward ForesightSiemens Chengdu Factory’s ForesightFrom Reactive to ProactiveCrafting Future-Ready Strategy with Through-Line ThinkingPivoting Harmful Inaction into Harm-Reducing Action at ScaleA Costly ScandalThe Road to RedemptionBeware of Creating an IT Dumping GroundDriving Responsible Scaling and Meaningful InnovationLessons Learned for Future-ReadinessTransformation and Ethical ConsiderationsDesigning for Billions, Thinking for OneThe Power of Active EmpathyCasting the Right NetStructured Solutions for Specific ProblemsBalancing Specialization and GeneralizationWork TransformationCycle of InquiryOptimization and IntegrationIntegration: The Bigger PicturePractical Steps for LeadersWhat Matters: Climate ActionWhat Matters: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Decision Tool: Reflective Checklist for Meaningful Innovation
The Invisible Currency of WorkTrust in the Digitally Transformed AgeHow We Show Up for Each OtherMeaningful Measures of Work and Clear ExpectationsA Culture of EmpathyLeading with Perspective and EmpathyEmpathy Coupled with Curiosity for Tech Humanist LeadershipEmpathy in Decision-MakingThe Role of Empathetic Leadership in a Tech-Heavy WorldSurveillance and the Paradox of TrustLeading toward a Trustworthy FutureBuilding Trust into Tech: Actionable StepsHow Much Management Should We Delegate to Algorithms?Future of Work ConsiderationsHumans and Machines in HarmonyPurpose-Driven WorkforcesThe Future WorkplaceThe Human Experience in Virtual WorkplacesPreparing for the Near-Future WorkplaceIntegrating AI Meaningfully into Future-Ready Human WorkParticipative LeadershipInfluence without AuthorityFuture-Ready Decision-Making for Leadership LegacyDecision Tool: An Interactive Reflection on Purposeful Leadership
Adopting Tech Humanist Principles to Lead the Way to What Matters NextThe Brighter Futures ChallengeAligning with HistoryA Tech Humanist’s Guide to the Future

Overview

Harness emerging technologies for business success while putting the human first

In What Matters Next: A Leader's Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That's Moving Too Fast, renowned author and consultant Kate O'Neill delivers a roadmap to achieve business growth, transformation, and innovation through the use of emerging technologies—but crucially, in a human-centric manner that benefits both business and humanity. Drawing on her experience working with organizations like Google, Yale, and the United Nations, O'Neill offers a unique blend of strategic guidance, ethical considerations, and practical application to help organizations not just survive, but thrive through bold and empathetic leadership.

In this book, readers will learn about:

Making better strategic decisions by moving from questions, to insights, to “Bankable Foresights”
Creating a model that aligns focus, purpose, values, and resources across an organization
Understanding the intersection and potential harmony of human knowledge and machine intelligence
Ensuring digital transformation and innovation efforts frame the future in human terms

What Matters Next is an essential read for all business leaders and individuals interested in the impact of emerging technology on business and humanity and seeking to effect positive change for the benefit of all.