Insightful Session on Navigating Technology Evolution and Building Tech-First Organizations

Dr. Navin Shankar Patel delivered a highly insightful talk on Navigating Technology Evolution and Building Tech-First Organizations on July 9, 2025, at SDMIMD. The session explored how technology continues to shape the business environment and emphasized the strategic shifts necessary for organizations to thrive in the digital era.

Key discussion points included the role of foundational technologies in the progress of civilization and a retrospective look at six decades of technological evolution. Dr. Patel illustrated how companies such as Blackberry, Nokia, and Byju's exemplify the risks associated with failing to adapt to rapid technological change. He introduced the concept of the Competitive Gravity Well, using Tesla as a case study to demonstrate how integrated technology ecosystems can create sustainable competitive advantage.

The anatomy of a tech-first organization was further illustrated through examples from Starbucks, Spotify, and Amazon, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making. A detailed walkthrough of the AI and GenAI value chain was presented using the “5 Cs” framework—Capture, Curate, Compute, Create, and Commercialize.

Additionally, Dr. Patel shared the “4 P” framework—Purpose, People, Process, and Platform—citing Reliance Jio as a benchmark example of a tech-first company.

To prepare future managers, he emphasized the importance of competencies such as data storytelling, prompt engineering, change management, Cloud and FinOps skills, continuous learning, and responsible AI governance.

The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, where students explored the discussed themes in greater depth, making it an enriching and future-focused learning experience.