April 3, 2020

‘Mesh’ Strategy: The Ultimate Disaster-Proof Plan for Business Continuity

Posted on April 3, 2020August 13, 2021 by Edward Kopko

(The following is taken from the first half of the Bold Business webinar “Beyond Working From Home: Strong Workforce Strategies for a Disrupted World“, which aired on April 2, 2020.)

A pandemic has forced entire countries into lockdown, and made businesses both big and small reckon with their continuity in ways most never anticipated. It has become apparent over the last couple of weeks that companies are really struggling with this environment. Over half of the world is in lockdown, and amazingly, only about ten percent of the employees in the United States have flexible workplace environments. The topic of how are we going to reorganize ourselves and how are we going to function is a very, very timely topic.

What’s a businesses to do? For those who have shifted their talent to a work-from-home posture (and for those still struggling to keep themselves afloat), the question “What next?” is a burning one. Thankfully, there is an answer: a “mesh” strategy.

But first, a look at the problem.

The ‘Cool’ Workplace Problem

For the longest time, having all employees gathered together in one place–sometimes in close quarters–was viewed as optimal. But thanks to the newfound threat of highly-communicable sicknesses, those days might be done.

The typical workforce for lots of venture capital companies and everything else would be a “cool” workplace. People having very social environments, the square footage for employees is quite low, there are shared desks, shared conference rooms and couches. In today’s world, germs, germs, germs would be all over the place.

Granted, most of the businesses inhabiting those clustered workplaces did anticipate some form of disruption. Hurricane Sandy made a number of office buildings in lower Manhattan inhabitable for an extended period of time, while the Northeast Blackout of 2003 taught everyone the importance of having backup servers for data and network preservation. For many companies, they have some plans for reasonable disruptions in place.

Unfortunately, a worldwide lockdown was never deemed a reasonable disruption. So what we’ve seen these last few weeks is that there are companies that pre-planned, and those that are handling things on the fly. Because as long as the disruption is localized, and people can still work from home, it’s a legitimate plan to have everyone take their laptops and work from home.

But what happens when the office is forced to close, and transitioning to a work-from-home posture isn’t enough?

When Working From Home Isn’t Enough

When the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the Northeast Blackout of 2003 struck, large geographic areas were affected. Similar calamities befell the UK and the Philippines with erupting volcanoes – Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 and the Philippines’ Taal just last year. Clearly, there are events too grand and too large-scale for a simple work-from-home maneuver. And some companies, in recognizing this, incorporate a buffer of geography diversity.

In this above graphic, the fictional business in question has its home office in the Northeast, virtual offices scattered nearby, and satellite offices in Florida and Texas. As an added wrinkle of geographic diversity, there’s even a partner office in Asia.

This is a great start. But a little bit of diversity and a little bit of geography isn’t quite good enough for sure-fire insulation against continuity issues, because one cut of one key process can completely disrupt the business. And that cut can come in the form of many things.

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, the US and China were engaged in a simmering trade war, and overtures of that conflict still echo, with China threatening to restrict crucial pharmaceutical supply chains. What would a tightening grip on a supply chain or product pipeline do to a companies caught in the middle?

For companies that are location-based or product-based, it could mean a complete collapse of their business.

Mesh Strategy to the Rescue

No disaster recovery plan or backup system will ever be as effective as a business strategy that spreads technology and talent across the globe in multiple locations. Which is why I propose a “mesh” strategy.

What is the mesh strategy? Basically, what you have is multiple offices, multiple partners, and multiple geographies, with the capacity to go virtual across the whole network. And if you do lose something, you have the ability to still have plenty of strength to your web or your company.

(Visualize all the lines connecting the various offices and partners as one big mesh.)

Of course, a mesh strategy alone isn’t as strong as a strategy that lacks partners who can “flex up” when they’re needed, partners that can take up the slack if a certain supply chain or production pipeline is compromised.

The problem with flexing up is that if a business doesn’t have a partner in place ahead of time, and they try to build something up in the midst of disruption, the time lag time can often be too damaging. The obvious answer to that, though, is the answer to all problems businesses must solve when faced with disruption: A company must plan ahead.

Stay tuned for the second article based on our webinar “Beyond Working From Home: Strong Workforce Strategies for a Disrupted World“, which will focus on the four moves a business should make to combat disruption.

Coronavirus Contamination? It’s Robots to the Rescue!

Posted on April 3, 2020August 23, 2021 by Staff Writer

By all accounts, global societies were ill-prepared for the coronavirus pandemic. Despite major technological advances in nearly every sector, their capacity to protect workers and operations have fallen short. But that doesn’t mean these advances have failed completely. In fact, digital innovations from videoconferencing to online education have allowed many to transition fairly well during this crisis. And in some cases, new uses for robots are also being identified that can help in this time of need. This is not only true for healthcare workers but for all segments of society.

In recent years, the uses for robots have spread. Amazon and iRobot’s Roomba perhaps led the way commercially. But today, many other uses for robots are being explored, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for better robotics in healthcare is certainly evident in numerous areas. But likewise, robotics can help us in numerous ways in other industry sectors as well as in our private lives. Though hardly a silver lining, it does appear the coronavirus pandemic has made it clear that robotics offers significant potential. And efforts to advance robotics in healthcare and other areas should be seriously pursued.

One answer to COVID-19 decontamination: robotics in healthcare.

“Robots have the potential to be deployed for disinfection, delivering medications and food, measuring vital signs, and assisting border controls. As epidemics escalate, the potential roles of robotics are becoming increasingly clear.” – Guang-Zhong Yang, Founding Editor of Science Robotics

Robotics in Healthcare – An Obvious Need

Amidst the coronavirus spread, we have come to appreciate the vulnerabilities of our healthcare systems. At the same time, we have also recognized the incredible commitments that millions of healthcare workers are making. The risks of coronavirus contamination are substantial for these individuals. And it stands to reason that robotics in healthcare could markedly reduce these threats. The following are a list of areas where robotics in healthcare could help us tremendously.

Disease Prevention Efforts – Robotics in healthcare are now being developed that can help with disinfection procedures. Specifically, one of the uses of robots involve ultraviolet light decontamination of surfaces. This would naturally reduce the potential for infectious disease spread. At the same time, however, it would also protect healthcare providers and cleaning staff from disease.

Diagnosis and Screening Procedures – In China, one of the uses of robots involved checking individuals’ temperature using drone surveillance. This could also be employed on a wider scale globally to better detect areas where infectious risk was high. At the same time, robotics in healthcare could employ facial recognition technologies. In doing so, contacts of high-risk individuals could be traced and notified, assuming proper privacy protections are in place.

Patient Care and Management – Naturally, administering coronavirus tests not only takes valuable healthcare worker time but also imposes risks. Thus, developing robotics for healthcare that can facilitate nasal swabs, specimen collection, and analysis could help. Likewise, oversight of patient care through vital sign monitoring would be other important uses for robots in these settings. These uses along with advances in telemedicine could offer major improvements in patient care.

“Is the robot acting as a medium for a doctor or another health care provider or professional? Or is the robot in itself supposed to be running some sort of task? Certainly, making them less threatening to people is important.” – Julie Carpenter, Roboticist and Research Fellow at the Ethics and Emerging Sciences Group at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Uses for Robots Beyond Healthcare

While the previously mentioned areas for robotics in healthcare are important during a pandemic, others also exist. Without question, many sectors have been tremendously disrupted as a result of the coronavirus spread. And all of our social lives have been impacted as well. From this perspective, many other additional uses for robots need to be considered also. The following are just a few of these uses for robots that should be investigated further.

Logistics and Deliveries – While these uses for robots have been explored for years, improvements could certainly be made. Logistics related to medical supplies reflects one area were robotics in healthcare could be advanced. But also, food delivery and other supplies could reduce infection exposure if better robotic systems were developed. One company, Starship Robotics, is already testing these types of robots for grocery delivery currently.

Legal Policy Monitoring – from border controls to enforcement of social isolation measures, uses for robots exist. These were used in China to some extent, but they could be advanced greatly to ensure compliance. By using robotic drones, such measures can be easily employed and monitored remotely. And by putting these safeguards in place, public health could be better served in all countries.

Social Connectivity – Social connections between doctors and patients are already be used with robotics in healthcare via telemedicine. But there is significant room for improvement. One of the important uses for robots in social isolation situations involves facilitating social connectivity. Through robots, individuals can connect with friends and family members, which can reduce mental health risks.

Systems Continuity – As we have realized, social isolation in the current pandemic has disrupted major systems. This includes businesses, banks, entertainment, and service sectors. Though each sector is unique, uses for robotics exist in all of them that can reduce these discontinuities. If robotics in healthcare can be successful, then robots can be developed for other industries as well.

“People start to reflect, for situations such as this, how robots can be used not only to help with social distancing but also for increasing social interaction.” – Guang-Zhong Yang

Robots Are Our Friends, Not Foes

In the past, many have been concerned about the role robots will play in society. The varied uses for robots to date have been seen as a threat to employment opportunities for some workers. But as the pandemic has shown with robotics in healthcare and beyond, this is not the case. Rather than seeing robots as replacements, they should be seen as facilitators and enhancers. By allowing each of us to manage our responsibilities better and more safely, robots offer tremendous value. And they are something we can certainly benefit from in crises such as the one we currently face.

The Online Learning Business Is Booming – But Is It Here to Stay?

Posted on April 3, 2020August 23, 2021 by Staff Writer

From kindergarten to university graduate programs, school systems have been forced to embrace online education platforms. As the threat of coronavirus has spread across the globe, online learning has replaced in-person interactions. What was believed to be draconian measures in China is now commonplace in most countries affected by COVID-19. In the process, many businesses in the education sector are thriving. While online education was already growing before, it has suddenly boomed overnight. But will this be a temporary blip on the radar, or a major shift in how we learn in the future?

Without question, online learning has many advantages that make it attractive to students and teachers alike. In fact, some of its features benefit parents as well. Knowing this, many businesses have been developing online education platforms and tools since the early 2000s. As a result, some are well-positioned to take advantages of current social isolation mandates. But much remains unknown about these online learning systems, especially in terms of effectiveness. Thus, exploring this sudden shift toward online education deserves a closer look.

“The digitalization of education is inevitable. The sudden epidemic accelerates the process by shifting all Chinese K12 users learning online.” – Amber Zhang, Director at TH Capital, a Beijing-headquartered investment bank

Major Players in the Online Education Landscape

In examining the online learning market, businesses involved in primary online education have experienced the greatest increase in demand. Certainly, platforms like Webex and Zoom are being increasingly utilized by everyone during this crisis. This not only includes teachers and students but many who are working from home. But businesses with digital educational platforms for school systems look to see the largest shift in demand. While many colleges and some high schools had such systems in place, some did not. And very few primary school systems enjoyed such infrastructures. Thus, it’s no wonder these companies stand to benefit at the present time.

Thanks to COVID-19, online learning is the only learning.

The top three online education systems likely to see their revenues rise are all veterans of the industry. Instructure’s Canvas platform has been around since 2008 and now has a global presence in 70 different countries. Likewise, Blackboard, which went public in 2004, has over 100 million clients worldwide. And Google Classroom, which has gained recent popularity, offers a more familiar interface that many find appealing. Google also offers Proctorio as part of its Chrome extensions that monitors students during online exams. As schools scramble to develop online education solutions, these are the companies they are most commonly exploring.

“In some ways, it’s actually better because you can really focus clearly on specific things like technique when you’re seeing somebody on screen. It’s been interesting to see how much my teaching style has changed using this [online education] format.” – Cyrus Beroukhim, Associate Professor, New York University

The Pros and the Cons of Online Learning

No one likes change, and when it comes to shifting school systems to online education, there will be some pushback. But online learning does have many advantages to offer. Like working from home, students can avoid commutes and save time and transportation costs. Likewise, with digital online learning platforms, quick access to information is often easier. And online education can be cost effective in many instances. Renting digital books instead of buying them is usually less costly. Also, tuition in many cases is also less. As the economy contracts, this could be one of the largest drivers for online learning businesses.

However, it is also worth noting that some challenges exist for online education systems. For younger children, home structure and materials may be inadequate to get the most out of online learning. Lack of tablets, computers, broadband and more could hinder academic success. Likewise, many educators lack effective curricula and testing measures for these online learning environments. Some also have limited computer science skills that require educational reforms. And it remains to be seen whether these digital platforms are as effective as classroom settings where social learning exists. These represent additional areas where opportunistic businesses can potentially thrive.

“I feel like I’m not learning anything because all I’m being asked to do is go onto Google Classroom, look at the assignments and finish them by a certain due date. So, it’s like I’m teaching myself rather than being taught.” – Jay-len McLean, current high school senior at Manhattan’s Talented Unlimited High School

From Classroom to Boardroom

Without question, the online education systems mentioned are increasing their sales in the current climate. But they are not alone. Online learning systems extend outside traditional student environments and into company cultures. In fact, many experts predict that the current shift to online education will significantly advance continuous learning overall. This means that online learning platforms will likely become the norm throughout the lifespan. With the world’s information doubling time expected to be 12 hours soon, this makes perfect sense. And companies who embrace online education and training for their employees will likely be those most favored.

With this in mind, there are several online learning platforms ideal for companies and their employees. For example, Udemy offers a large catalog of business-related courses from which to choose. Likewise, Skillshare and LinkedIn Learning also provide specific courses in a number of fields that can help businesses. These latter two platforms are based on subscription models, which makes continuous learning easier. Finally, Coursera is another online education platform for continuous learning. Coursera actually collaborates with universities and offers platform degrees to support quality online education. In all likelihood, these types of platforms will become much more mainstream.

A Steep Learning Curve for the Future

Online education certainly has its challenges. In addition to the ones mentioned, others involving security, data privacy and quality also exist. But by all indications, the online learning industry is booming and will continue to do so well after this pandemic. Currently, educational apps are the second growing fastest app sector in the world. Likewise, global growth of online learning systems is expected to advance by double-digit percentages for years. Though we were already on the cusp of online education’s golden age, COVID-19 has pushed us over that edge. And businesses poised to meet consumer needs in this area will certainly thrive in the process.

Day: April 3, 2020