Transparency: a force for Good

In 2021 there were lots of scary things going on in the world, and perhaps more transparency is already on your radar as one of them.

As we look back on 2021, let’s hope that most of last year’s truly scary issues subside.

I have a feeling, however, that transparency as a concept, even a movement, will not be going away, it's going to become a bigger part of our lives.

What exactly does transparency mean, and more importantly, why should we be concerned?

The Premise: As the world is transformed by digitization, more data is produced, information is captured, and could be made available to anyone, anywhere, and at any time. This process creates transparency.

This is the premise of digital transformation: we can all be more informed, prepared, and efficient in our lives.

Transparency enables all this information to be available and used effectively, we should look at it as “progress” and a “good thing”.

Depending on your age, this premise may seem obvious, digital natives take it for granted that data is constantly exchanged.

On the other hand, my 83-year-old mother would surely respond “well, what if I don’t want to share or have more information? It seems so complicated!”

The Promise: The promise of transparency is that the data we share will be used to improve our experiences.

This isn’t a new thought, right?

“Buyer beware” is an ancient Latin phrase – caveat emptor and maybe the original plea for more transparency in shopping.

In the US during 2020, there were recalls of dog food, mislabeled soups containing egg products, and - that major American food group known as - “hot pockets”.

I single out food recalls because it is immediately clear that there are benefits of transparency.

Apply the promise of digital transformation with its speed, reach and accuracy, and transparency in the food supply chain becomes a real force for good.

As the proverb says, “promises made, promises kept”. For consumers and transparency, that means among other things a measurable improvement in the access to information that we value having, personalized experiences, and how simple technology makes our lives.

It's important to set these expectations upfront so that we all know how high the stakes are in creating this transparency capability.

It seems that most people are hopeful that this promise will be kept.

The Edelman Trust Survey indicates that Business is viewed as more trustworthy than the Government or the Media to act ethically on societal issues.

Business leaders will surely recognize how fundamental trust is to forming relationships with their customers and consumers. For the transparency movement to earn the title of “a force for good” this is another promise which we will need to have delivered.

So, the next time you are enjoying the benefits of a digital experience - perhaps a website that recognizes your history, or access to food information you can't find on the package - take a moment to note that transparency can have a very positive impact.