There's a whole generation of young people who are faced with the so-called 'jobless recovery.' Necessity is the mother of invention. They are out there, all around the world, creating new companies.
Throughout the 20th century, we created wealth through vertically integrated corporations. Now, we create wealth through networks. We are at a turning point in human history, where the industrial age has finally run out of gas.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the shift from traditional industrial corporations to network-based wealth creation in the modern era.
Don Tapscott reflects on a significant transition in human history where wealth generation has evolved from the dominance of vertically integrated corporations, typical of the industrial age, to a more decentralized and interconnected approach driven by networks. This marks a turning point as society moves away from an outdated industrial model and embraces new forms of collaboration and innovation that define the current landscape.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a business conference, a speaker could use this quote to highlight the importance of adapting to new technological landscapes.
More from Don Tapscott
All quotes →Holding back technology to reserve business models is like allowing blacksmiths to veto the internal combustion engine in order to protect their horseshoes.
If you work for and eventually lead a company, understand that companies have multiple stakeholders including employees, customers, business partners and the communities within which they operate.
Leadership is happening, but it's not coming from the leaders of the old institutions. Everywhere you look, you see these extraordinary, sparkling new initiatives that are under way.
The social world is transforming the way we create wealth, work, learn, play, raise our children, and probably the way we think.
In an age where everything and everyone is linked through networks of glass and air, no one - no business, organization, government agency, country - is an island. We need to do right by all our stakeholders, and that's how you create value for shareholders. And one thing is for sure - no organization can succeed in a world that is failing.
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