Exacting Change

In today's business climate, it seems that the phrase "tried and true" may need to be drastically revamped, to avoid complete irrelevance.

How's this?: "Tried and true last Tuesday."

Or does that sound too lackadaisical, in light of the volatile nature of our fast-paced world?

What about?: "Briefly considered before lunch."

Anyone who still expects an existing business model to stay the same for any measurable span of time might as well paint a bull's-eye on his or her swivel chair. The innovators are out there, and they're itching to change the game - whether we like it or not.

I'm certainly no expert in these matters, but it's hard to miss the fact that "the status quo" has become little more than a roadside fruit stand in the rear-view mirror of commerce.

Experts in the study of "disruptive technology" - such as Professor Clayton Christensen of Harvard Business School, who coined the term - can explain the whys and wherefores. But don't worry if you can't understand all their talk of "organic semiconductors" and "nanoparticle suspension."

When Daniel Gamota of Motorola writes about a printing process that uses electroactive inks to produce organic field-effect transistors, this is all you really need to know: The new technology may be used to create instantly updateable newspapers or animated product packaging.

A culture-altering innovation or a gimmicky novelty act? Only time will tell. But it's hard to dismiss Gamota's advice to business leaders:

"Find out what a five-year-old child wants, enter that area and start creating revenue streams."