Last week, our Irish team brought senior leaders and transformation experts together in Dublin for an insightful boardroom conversation exploring a critical topic: how can organisations not only withstand disruption but thrive through it?
Drawing on insights from our Operations Outlook 2026 research report and Beyond Resilience whitepaper, our business design specialists highlighted the mounting pressures facing organisations, from rapid technological change to cost challenges, workforce strain, and global volatility. The discussion centred on the key theme of moving from defensive resilience to proactive, design‑led transformation.
Here are some of the key insights from the event:
- Resilience can no longer be reactive. Resilience is being tested by an accumulation of technology changes, cost pressure, and workforce strain. Looking to the future, businesses need a foundation that is future‑oriented, holistic, and connected, all key principles of Business Design
- Over the next five years, companies are turning to AI and automation, enhancing operational efficiencies and profitability. While many organisations are rapidly investing in AI and automation, the conversation underscored a key insight: technology alone is not enough. Implementation barriers such as cybersecurity concerns, high costs, legacy systems, and limited digital skills continue to slow progress
- Technology alone is not enough, and there is an increasing focus on talent acquisition and development. Training, transparency, and cross‑functional teams are becoming essential to bridging the digital skills gap and improving adoption of new tools and ways of working
- Supply chains are transforming to become more responsive. From supplier diversification to contingency planning, organisations are actively redesigning their supply chain models to withstand ongoing volatility
- Business Design is the missing link. Business Design is helping organisations boost performance by accelerating transformation, reducing risk, and ensuring people remain central to change. The event made clear that while disruption is inevitable, the organisations that thrive are those that design for adaptability, empower their people, and connect strategy with execution through a disciplined, future‑focused approach
Thank you to all attendees for a rich and insightful discussion. We look forward to continuing the conversation as we support organisations in building future‑ready, high‑performing businesses.
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