Digital Program Transformation:Take the Right RISKS - Choose ‘Promotion’ Focused over ' Prevention’ Focused

Be the RIGHT risk takers, disrupt yourself before disrupting others. We are all equal before a wave!!

In Program Management, we are shifting our gears towards- Outcome, Strategy, Benefits Realization and Customer Journey Mapping, from traditional Project Management. In addition to it, I personally feel that Risk Management is not the same for Project & Program, where Taking & managing risks are instrumental & starting point to disrupt ourselves for Digital Transformation Program.

In Program management(PgMP) Risks are come from both way- Top (Organizational Strategies) and Bottom (underlying Projects). So Taking right risk, managing risk and calculated risk for innovation is must for Digital Transformation Leader.

Digital & Design thinking driving us to start something new. This means starting something new, is taking or adding risk in our plates. In our society, the word “risk” has assumed mostly as negative connotations. When someone tells us “That it’s risky”, most of us have a visceral, built a perception & fearful reaction. But Mother Nature favors mostly ‘Risk Takers’.

According to psychologists Tory Higgins and Heidi Grant Halverson, humans can be divided in two personality:-

‘ Promotional’ Focused for Self & Organization-Those whose motivation is promotion(uplift) focused; are comfortable taking chances, like to work quickly, dream big & think creatively. They (Human & organization lead by them) are NATURAL RISK TAKER- focused on maximizing gain & contribution. They invest, invent and simplify!

‘ Prevention’ Focused for Self & Organization-In contrast, people who are prevention focused ; trend to concentrate on playing & staying safe, work slowly and meticulously, worry what might go wrong if they are not careful enough.Human & organization lead by them - focus only on preserving what they have!

 As we gears up to take risks, it’s also important to distinguish between ‘Competitive Risk’ and ‘Market Risk’. Avoid the wrong Risks. Brain Science also supports Market Risk over competitive risk. Taking Market risk involves a much healthier mental state. While we perceive a new-innovative idea as more risky than an established one, what happens in our brain tells us otherwise. Another motivation factor to take & manage risk is for- identify a job no one else can do.

Disruptors not only look for the unmet needs, they match those needs with their Distinctive Strengths. A distinctive strength is something that we do well that others (our competitors) within our sphere & ecosystem don’t.

Risks also come with constraints and so the Digital Disruption Programs. Hence Embracing Constraints are important. Constraints leads to faster feedback and helped us to Stay Focused. Constraints give us something to push against. There will always be variables outside our control, but to experience hyper growth of Personal & Organization disruption, we do acknowledge that certain Business code of conduct/Rules always apply-the important of embracing constraints, even imposing them on occasion, and leveraging our distinctive strengths while inhabiting the right risks.

Now, over to us - Be a Disruptor, Promotion focused & embracing constraints OR playing safe to preserve what we have !!