Have we lost the plot?

In medieval times our ancestors really knew about business. They were well aware of the loss from a failed harvest, due to extreme weather, the risks of theft or change of the King’s governance…

The business involved their unique skills and competitiveness. People in the form of good customers and reliable suppliers were vital to their success. Their products and services were delivered from their workshop or kitchen via a well arranged and ideally located marketplace. This process worked for centuries.

Then came the computer! Much of our process became automated and equal to anyone else who had a computer. Somehow we became fixated with data backup and replacement of the computer. Happily, our IT industry has matured to design and implement highly reliable “cloud” based infrastructures with “virtualized” servers, ensuring we have access to data whenever and wherever we need it.

Somewhere we have missed those vital ingredients, our customers and the products they want to buy. It’s time to go back to basics. Our skilled workforce must be protected whatever happens. The products and services they offer need to be maintained. Our people need a suitable place to work. Home based working is not always suitable or secure. The level and content of accessible information needs only to be according to requirement. Despite everything, we must operate within the law, industry regulations and our own business ethics, strategy and goals. Should we now consider our real risks and protect against potential disruption?