Leadership

IntroductionSetting the Stage: Consulting Meets AIRevisiting Predictions from The Future of Leadership in the Age of AIThe Pyramid Problem: Why Consulting’s Business Model is Under ThreatThe Traditional Pyramid StructureWhy It’s Under ThreatAI’s Role in Automating Grinder WorkData Collection and AnalysisBuilding Financial Models and Scenario SimulationsCreating Reports and PresentationsAccelerating ResearchAI Capabilities PredictionThe Efficiency DilemmaThe Great Inversion: Flipping the Pyramid Upside DownThe Collapse of the MiddleThe Democratization of ExpertiseThe End of Information AsymmetryThe Risks of Falling Behind Client ExpectationsThe Devaluation of PowerPoint-WareWhy Strategies, Assessments, and TOMs Won’t Cut It AnymoreThe AI Impact on Traditional DeliverablesThe New Standard for Consulting DeliverablesThe Shift from Outputs to OutcomesThe Rise of Continuous EngagementsThe Devaluation of Organizational BullshitTrust as the FoundationThe Move to AI-Driven, Tech-Supported, End-to-End...

While I add a similar disclaimer to all of my public content, it's particularly important in this case to emphasize that the convictions I've expressed in this article are entirely my own. I've arrived at these opinions after 30 years of corporate work, but they in no way reflect the views of PwC and are in no particular way inspired by PwC. Preamble I have to admit that I am a little surprised to find myself writing a series of articles on 'organizational bullshit.' At first glance, this is not my area of specialist expertise. But the more I have reflected on this topic, the more I have realized that I am at least partially qualified to contribute an opinion, as...

Read Part 1: Why Part 2: How One day, sitting in the shed he called home, the journalist, Oobah Butler, had an idea: he would turn his shed into a fake restaurant and make it the top-rated eatery in London. This audacious thought wasn't random, though. Before becoming a feature writer for VICE.com, one of Butler's part-time jobs had been as a review writer. But not just any reviews – these were fake reviews on TripAdvisor paid for by establishments who wanted to improve their business ratings. As he became more entrenched in this work and watched his reviews have real-world effects on restaurant rankings, Butler began to doubt the reality of the whole system, believing that it was all fake,...

How window-dressing chips away at any tangible rewards companies could reap from neurodiversity efforts. Diversity has made a dent in the public consciousness. With a long-overdue shift from an ethical buzzword into a brand-defining must-have, emerging nuances to diversity have at last begun to take their place on the front burner. In fact, neurodiversity is now so widely known that it has quickly risen to become a subject of keen interest. Google Trends drops data-backed hints about how much of a crucial role neurodiverse individuals actually play in corporate and social settings — unlike how we have come to view them as outliers. A close look at the data around the search for the term “Neurodiversity” reveals a sudden spike in...

Neurodiversity is the concept that recognizes and embraces the wide range of human neurological variations. It acknowledges that individuals with diverse cognitive abilities and neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other conditions, bring unique strengths and perspectives to our species. Over time, neurodiversity has played a crucial role in the development and progress of the human species, contributing to our adaptability, innovation, and problem-solving abilities. Diverse Problem-Solving and Innovation The human species has thrived due to its ability to adapt to different environments and come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. Neurodiversity plays a crucial role in this adaptability by fostering diverse cognitive approaches to problem-solving. Individuals with different neurological backgrounds bring unique perspectives and strengths, enabling our...

The cybersecurity industry is constantly evolving, facing new threats and challenges every day. To stay ahead of the curve, protect sensitive information, and protect lives (in case of cyber-kinetic risks), the industry requires a diverse range of skills, perspectives, and innovative solutions capable of tackling complex and evolving threats. The cybersecurity sector has a unique opportunity to harness the distinctive talents of neurodivergent individuals. Neurodiversity, which encompasses individuals with cognitive differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodivergent descriptions, offers a unique and untapped talent pool for the cybersecurity sector. The benefits of diversity, especially in tech spaces, are well-documented. Diversity inspires curiosity in heterogeneous teams, which means more robust creative capacity. Diversity creates a level of discomfort that...

“Organizational bullshit” is a term coined to describe deceptive, vague, or otherwise misleading communication within an organization.  “Organizational bullshit” is not an expletive. It is a legitimate academic term and the subject of serious and growing academic research on leadership. In his 1986 essay, “On Bullshit,” which later developed into a book by the same name, Princeton philosopher, Harry G. Frankfurt, was the first to look at the phenomenon through a more analytical lens, making it something that can be identified and, therefore, addressed. Frankfurt proposed that bullshit is different from lying. Unlike a liar that intentionally subverts the truth, a bullshitter doesn’t care about the truth as long as they can further their own interests. Bullshitting is mostly a...