Master The S-Curve Model, Convergence, and LeaderX Mindset | Modu Musing
Dec 18, 2024
Where does technology convergence meet innovation?
Real disruption doesn't happen when a new technology simply replaces or improves what's already out there. It happens when different emerging technologies converge and create something entirely new. We're currently experiencing a phase change disruption, a term borrowed from physics where a phase change refers to a substance transitioning between states, like ice melting into water. Multiple emerging technologies are converging to fundamentally alter industries, economies and societies.
In many cases businesses are exploring AI to substitute existing services to automate tasks, improve efficiency or take out costs. At the same time, however, AI is merging with other emerging technologies, leading to innovative solutions that weren't previously possible. This convergence is opening up new markets and fundamentally changing how we interact with technology.
The smartphone revolution was triggered by the convergence of 3G, touch screens, sensors, the ARM microprocessor and lithium-ion batteries; that came together at just the right time to transform how we communicate, work and live. Similarly, the fusion of AI and robotics isn't just automating tasks; it's enabling autonomous vehicles and advanced manufacturing processes that were unimaginable a few years ago.
Understanding the “S-curve” Model
The S-curve adoption model helps us understand how these technologies gain widespread acceptance and gets its name because when charting the cumulative adoption of a new technology over time, the graph typically forms an "S" shape. This reflects the typical pattern of how innovations are adopted: slow initial growth as only innovators and early adopters embrace the new technology; then a rapid growth phase where awareness increases and mass adoption occurs; and finally reaching maturity and saturation as the market becomes saturated and adoption rates level off.
Understanding the S-curve is crucial for innovators. When multiple technologies converge they can collectively reach that tipping point faster, driving rapid adoption and market disruption. Companies that recognise and act on this can ride the wave of rapid growth, while those that don't often find themselves left behind.
AI, biotech, IoT, renewable energy and advanced materials are not just advancing individually, they're intertwining. This convergence amplifies their impact, leading to innovations that are more than the sum of their parts. What once took decades now happens in years or even months, speeding up the adoption curve and leading to quicker disruptions.
LeaderX Mindset
Modu believes that a LeaderX mindset is key to navigating the complexities and uncertainties that come with such profound change. LeaderX have a willingness to rethink traditional approaches, they anticipate trends and position their organisations to capitalise on them.