I(A) Stories & Experiments

Navigating the Digital Frontier: Insights from Ironstone Advisory'


This was and interview I went through with a AI Interviewer design by a specialisting organizational behaviour.


In the rapidly evolving world of technology and business, few challenges loom larger than digital transformation. As companies grapple with the complexities of this new landscape, they increasingly turn to strategic partners to guide them through uncharted territory. Among these partners, Ironstone Advisory stands out for its innovative approach and proven track record of success.

We sat down with the visionary leader behind Ironstone Advisory to explore the firm's unique philosophy, the challenges facing today's executives, and the strategies that can help companies not just survive but thrive in the digital age.


The Genesis of a New Approach

"Ironstone Advisory was born out of a recognition that the traditional consulting model was no longer sufficient," explains the firm's founder. "In the face of rapid technological change, companies need more than advice. They need partners who can help them implement practical, innovative solutions."


This realization led to the development of what the founder calls a 'post-post-modern' approach, one that blends deep industry experience with a forward-thinking perspective. "We don't just offer advice," he notes. "We immerse ourselves in our clients' industries, anticipating changes and pivoting strategies quickly."

This immersion, he explains, is key to understanding the unique challenges and opportunities facing each client. "Every industry, every company, is different," he stresses. "By diving deep into their world, we can craft strategies that are tailored to their specific needs and goals."


A Focus on Ethics and Security

In an era marked by data breaches and privacy concerns, Ironstone Advisory also sets itself apart through its unwavering commitment to ethics and security. "Trust is the foundation of any successful partnership," the founder emphasizes. "Our clients need to know that their data, their strategies, and their challenges are in safe hands."

To ensure this trust, the firm has implemented rigorous security protocols and a strict code of ethics. "We believe in total transparency and unwavering integrity," he affirms. "It's not just about doing what's legal; it's about doing what's right."


Navigating Complexity, Driving Success

This approach has yielded impressive results, as evidenced by a recent engagement with a Hong Kong-based company looking to penetrate the U.S. and Canadian markets. "We not only devised a robust go-to-market strategy in key accounts,  but also closely guided their implementation, addressing cultural nuances and regulatory challenges," the founder shares. "The result in one of the key Canadina accounts, was a successful launch with significant market penetration in their first year."


Such successes, he believes, are rooted in Ironstone Advisory's commitment to staying at the forefront of technology. "We invest heavily in keeping our team ahead of the curve," he explains. "This ensures that our strategies and solutions are not just current but ahead of their time."


This forward-thinking approach is particularly crucial in sectors like Insurance and Capital Markets, where Ironstone Advisory has developed a strong reputation. "These are industries on the cusp of major disruption," the founder observes. "By anticipating trends and proactively developing strategies, we help our clients not just adapt to change but leverage it for growth."


The Future of Management Consulting

Looking to the future, the founder sees digital transformation as both the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity for management consulting. "Companies are seeking to adapt and thrive in an increasingly digital world," he observes. "This creates a tremendous opportunity for consultancies that can guide them through these seismic shifts."


In this context, he sees the role of consultancies evolving from advisors to essential strategic partners. "Digital transformation is not just about technology; it's about culture, processes, and mindsets," he stresses. "Our job is to help companies navigate this complexity and emerge stronger."


This evolution, he believes, will require consultancies to develop new skills and perspectives. "We can no longer think in silos," he argues. "The successful consultancies of the future will be those that can bridge the gaps between strategy, technology, and human capital."


Advice for Leaders

For businesses facing the challenges of digital transformation, the founder offers this advice: "Embrace change and be prepared to pivot. Companies that remain agile, open to change, and aligned with their core mission will not just survive; they'll thrive."

He also stresses the importance of partnership. "No company can navigate this landscape alone," he affirms. "Seek out partners who understand your industry, your challenges, and your goals. Partners who can not just advise but also implement and adapt."


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This is an experiment. I have lived and more specifically, I have worked across all the waves of computing in the last 4 decades. I have programmed, designed and managed large scale, impactful software implementations in Enterprise in the last 40 years. Now, I believe that Generative AI is the most impactful and wide-ranging software that is emerging as a  General Purpose Technology - 

General-purpose technologies (GPTs) are technologies that can affect an entire economy (usually at a national or global level). GPTs have the potential to drastically alter societies through their impact on pre-existing economic and social structures. 

Other GPTs that economists widely agree upon are electricity, medicine, the automobile and the Internet.  One of the characteristics of GPTs is that they expand in use to over 80% of the population in a nation. They tend not to proliferate evenly across natins. For instance automobile usage expanded more rapidly in the USA than in all of Africa.  So, although a loved and and evergreen product, hoola hoops are not a GPT but a mobile smartphone is..

The trajectory towards Generative AI (GAI) becoming a General Purpose Technology (GPT) is underpinned by several compelling reasons, each reflecting its transformative potential across diverse sectors of the economy and society.

1. Ubiquity Across Industries

Generative AI's applications span virtually every industry, from healthcare, where it can personalize treatment plans and simulate drug interactions, to entertainment, where it generates new content and enhances user experiences. Its adaptability means it can be tailored to specific needs, making it a foundational tool for innovation and efficiency improvements across the board. This universal applicability is a hallmark of GPTs, reminiscent of how the internet revolutionized information access and communication.

2. Enhancement of Productivity and Creativity

GAI offers significant productivity boosts by automating routine tasks and analyzing data at scales and speeds unattainable by humans. Beyond mere automation, it also augments human creativity, enabling professionals to explore new ideas and solutions in fields like design, writing, and software development. This dual capability to enhance both productivity and creativity mirrors the impact of previous GPTs, such as electricity’s role in powering the industrial revolution.

3. Economic and Social Transformation

Generative AI has the potential to drive economic growth and social change. By creating new services and products, it can open up fresh revenue streams and business models, much like how the automobile and internet spawned entire industries. Moreover, its ability to democratize access to expertise (e.g., legal, educational, medical) can have profound social implications, improving living standards and access to information worldwide.

4. Scalability and Accessibility

The digital nature of GAI means it can be deployed at scale with relatively low marginal costs, akin to how the internet expanded global connectivity. This scalability, coupled with cloud computing infrastructures, makes GAI accessible to businesses and individuals everywhere, breaking down barriers to entry and fostering innovation at an unprecedented pace.

5. Continuous Improvement and Learning

Unlike static technologies, GAI models learn and improve over time through data and interactions, becoming more efficient and effective. This self-improving characteristic ensures that GAI can adapt to changing environments and needs, much like how software updates have kept computer systems evolving. This aspect of continuous enhancement ensures that GAI remains relevant and increasingly valuable, a key feature of technologies considered to be GPTs.

Notice that I have not included the replacement of humans as a key feature of GAIs. In the past there have been GPTs like various human efforts like the steam engine or the electric pump. These replaced jobs and tasks but nut humans.

In considering Generative AI's trajectory as a GPT, it's essential to also think about the broader implications, including ethical considerations, the need for robust governance frameworks, and the potential for exacerbating inequalities. Balancing innovation with these considerations will be crucial in realizing GAI's full potential as a force for positive change.

Considering AI as a GPT is not simple because, at the end of the day, it is just software. The markets and the most valuable companies in the world are spending the majority of their resource on AI because they think GPTs and other AI will be the next general-purpose technology. It is a pretty happy accident that GPTs could be GPTs.  It's unlikely that this was done on purpose but the marketer in me wishes that in some coffee house in San Francisco in SOMA, a couple of entrepeneurs came up with that hack. GPT-Squared, literally!

Before people dig in and swoop to extremes in arguing whether or not GPTs are GPTs and that AI will save or destroy the world, we should look at the history of software, computers and there in pacts.  This is a good use of ChatGPT. If you are interested how I generated th short history of computing and software, look here.

It's alway a good idea to look to the past before we move to the future. Here is a short piece of history. I verify it as non-hallucinatory and correct.

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The Dawn of Software Markets

The software market's inception dates back to the early days of computing in the 1950s and 1960s, a period characterized by mainframe computers and the genesis of software development as a distinct discipline. Initially, software was bundled with hardware, offered as part of the package by manufacturers like IBM. This period laid the groundwork for systems thinking in software development, emphasizing the need for integrated solutions to complex problems.

The Rise of Personal Computing and Software Commercialization

The 1980s and 1990s heralded the era of personal computing, driven by advances in microprocessor technology and the introduction of user-friendly operating systems. Microsoft and Apple emerged as key players, transforming the software market with products like Windows and MacOS. This era also saw the rise of enterprise software giants like SAP and Oracle, specializing in resource planning and database management systems, respectively. Their success underscored the importance of understanding user needs and creating ecosystems around software products, aligning with your interest in platform business models and systems design engineering.

The Internet and Open Source Movement

The late 1990s and early 2000s were defined by the internet's advent and the open-source movement's rise. This period democratized access to software tools and resources, fostering innovation and collaboration across the globe. Companies like Google and Amazon began to dominate, leveraging the internet to offer new services and redefine customer expectations. The open-source model also challenged traditional software development paradigms, emphasizing community-driven projects and transparency.

The Mobile Revolution and Cloud Computing

The 2000s and 2010s were marked by the mobile revolution and the ascent of cloud computing. Smartphones transformed software delivery and consumption, leading to the app economy's explosive growth. Cloud computing, spearheaded by services like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, revolutionized how businesses deploy and manage software, offering scalable, on-demand computing resources. This era emphasized the importance of user experience and accessibility, aligning with your focus on clear communication and effective problem-solving.

Current Trends: AI, IoT, and SaaS

Today, the software market is increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Software as a Service (SaaS) models. These trends reflect a shift towards more intelligent, interconnected, and subscription-based software solutions. The emphasis on data analytics and machine learning in software development parallels your interest in systems thinking and design thinking, offering new ways to understand and predict user behavior.

Looking Forward

As we look to the future, the software market is poised for further transformation, driven by advances in quantum computing, blockchain, and virtual reality. These technologies promise to redefine the boundaries of what software can achieve, presenting exciting opportunities for innovation and new business models.

Reflecting on the history of the software market, it's clear that success has often been achieved by those who can effectively anticipate and adapt to change, leveraging systems thinking, and design thinking to solve complex problems. Your role as a serial entrepreneur and expert in systems design positions you uniquely to navigate this landscape, drawing on lessons from the past while looking forward to the future's possibilities.


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THe Next Story - the Abilities and building Software with Architecture

I have to remind people of these regularly. So I wrote down the abilities I expect to design into software systems for enterprise. These are the "Abilities" The necessary and suffient things needed for global, multiuser software application system.  When we do fight against ensuring these abilities, systems, projects and programs fail gracelessly or die a slow death.

For a look at 100 more essays, experments and notes, I post them to robtyrie.medium.com. All opinions are my own. (The picture is from 100 years ago in a glen, near the trail head on Sleepy G Provincial Park near Thunder Bay circa - 2010).