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Connections with Leading Thinkers
Adam Kingl of the London Business School
Adam Kingl is the Executive Director of Learning Solutions for
Executive Education at London Business School. His specialties
lie in virtual team dynamics, organizational learning, leadership,
and innovation strategy.
Adam has advised a number of companies and has served on
numerous boards. He holds a MBA from the London Business
School, a MA from UCLA and a BA from Yale University.
Matthew Robinson and Jonathan Prosser from the Accenture
Institute for High Performance (AIHP) spoke to Adam about the
role of digital platforms in enabling innovation.
2 | Accenture Institute for High Performance | Copyright © 2015 Accenture. All rights reserved.
Connections with Leading Thinkers
Connections with Leading Thinkers
3 | Accenture Institute for High Performance | Copyright © 2015 Accenture. All rights reserved.
AIHP: Adam, it is a pleasure to meet with you at the London Business School. We wanted to discuss a trend which we are observing: currently the social sphere is leading the corporate sphere in the provision of the digital tools and indeed the environments for people to connect and share ideas in a meaningful, productive way. Is this something you have come across in your research?
Adam Kingl: Certainly. I see this all the time, in my research and in my work in the higher education field. I believe we must learn about the benefits digital platforms offer us in professional settings so we can use them to provide the best learning environment and empower employees to share ideas.
AIHP: What are some of the benefits you see digital platforms offering today’s executives?
Adam Kingl: The opportunity to conduct better structured ideation sessions that produce a greater number of tangible outcomes. Time-bound, well moderated exercises on a virtual platform are very useful for driving innovation. Different companies can come together to collaborate and due to the digital parameters of the discussion, many find it easier to share openly
and contribute. For example, we might set up a discussion that says for the next 72 hours we are running this virtual event, and we want you to share your ideas on a specific question or shared problem. The digital nature of this discussion helps avoid group-think, breaks down hierarchy, and stops dominance by an individual. In addition, it reduces concerns regarding how those in the room present themselves. The environments in which these digital collaborations are performed are built on trust. There are rules for engagement. Participants, for example, need to be pre-qualified by a trusted intermediary. This trust helps the involved parties work more effectively.
AIHP: You have been devoting a lot of your research to understanding the behavior of the Generation Y in the workplace. Is there a link between attracting and retaining the Generation Y talent and investing in digital collaboration tools?
Adam Kingl: Yes in fact there is a link between investing in digital collaboration tools and better engaging with the Generation
Y talent in workplaces. With digital platforms, there is a chance to make discussions more encompassing. This is important because when we look at the Generation Y, we see that they don’t value hierarchy in the way that their older peers do. They are disproportionally well-networked through their technology enablement. Engaging through digital tools gives a seat at the table for all generations to work together effectively: frame the rules in a clear manner, encourage the participation of everyone, regardless of their level, and give time and space for ideas to develop.
AIHP: Thank you Adam for your excellent insights.
“ Time-bound, well moderated exercises on a virtual platform are very useful for driving innovation.”
“ There is a link between investing in digital collaboration tools and better engaging with the Generation Y talent in workplaces.”
As part of the Accenture Institute for High Performance’s mission to develop cutting-edge new ideas and insights, researchers often seek the views of academic leaders, business executives and industry analysts. The Connections with Leading Thinkers series captures some of those interviews, showcasing interactions and discussions with some of the world’s leading experts. www.accenture.com/institute For further information please contact [email protected] [email protected]
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions—underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network—Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 358,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives.
About the Accenture Institute for High Performance The Accenture Institute for High Performance creates strategic insights into key management issues and macroeconomic and political trends through original research and analysis. Its management researchers combine world-class reputations with Accenture’s extensive consulting, technology and outsourcing experience to conduct innovative research and analysis into how organizations become and remain high-performance businesses. Please visit us at www.accenture.com/institute.
Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.
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