Modern disruptions happen faster and hit harder than historical precedents. What once took decades now happens in years—or even months. This acceleration creates both greater risks and greater opportunities.
Several factors drive this acceleration:
Interconnectedness: Global supply chains, financial systems, and communication networks mean local disruptions quickly become global events.
Technology Leverage: Digital tools allow new solutions to scale instantly. A good idea can reach millions in days rather than years.
Information Velocity: News, rumors, and market signals travel at light speed, creating rapid sentiment shifts and herd behaviors.
Capital Fluidity: Money moves faster than ever, allowing quick funding for promising solutions but also rapid abandonment of failing models.
This acceleration means traditional planning cycles are obsolete. The five-year strategic plan, the careful market study, the gradual rollout—these luxury approaches assume a stability that no longer exists. Success now requires different tools: rapid experimentation, continuous adaptation, and comfort with uncertainty.