From Complexity To Simplicity

It is a blessing and a curse for modern day startups that information is everywhere. It’s easy to access and easy to create. New information is created every second – and the speed is accelerating, thanks to digital platforms.

The continuous creation of information and the utilisation of digital platforms leads to the supersaturation of information, which then leads to companies’ operational environments becoming more complex. For example, information makes it possible to evaluate companies’ actions from different points of view, in more diverse ways than before.

However, the other result is that we’re facing an information overload: working and learning environments are becoming too complex. This is why start-ups – and all companies, really – should pay attention to the trend of supersaturation of information, complexity, and how simplification is the next step.

1530_supersaturation_first

Source: Forbes

Simplicity is rapidly becoming the new management philosophy. There are tools to achieve this, such as Workboard, an app that makes managing team goals and schedules easy. It also provides managers with graphs of the data and an easy platform to give feedback to employees.

A majority of senior leaders agree that stifling complexity is beneficial, and 67% agree that business simplification will be very important within the next three years. After all, too much complexity can have a negative effect on employees’ well-being and engagement to their work.

1530_supersaturation_second

Source: Global Human Capital Trends 2015

Remember, that the need for simplification isn’t limited to information. A good example of people’s craving for less complexity is Buy Me Once, a company that promotes products that are supposed to last for a lifetime instead of products that need to be re-purchased all the time because of breaking or wearing out.

In the world of endless information and material, simple is attractive. Automated solutions are helping business leaders to re-invest the precious commodity of time to other areas, and ongoing attempts to dismantle bureaucratic roadblocks within organizations cries out for innovations.

So here’s something to think about: how can you lessen the bureaucracy in your company? How can you make things more simple for your employees and clients alike? And what innovation could help companies achieve less complexity in their work environment?

To learn more about the trends of work and learning, you can get a Trend Map, made by 15/30 Research. Or, if you wish to really understand the trends that affect businesses now and in the future, take a look at 15/30’s Trend Manuals.

This article is written by Miia Outinen, Murray Dick and Markus Keränen from 15/30 – a research company and transformation agency which predicts industry specific trends globally and helps its clients to create awesome business concepts. 15/30’s Trend Manuals provide valuable insight to businesses and guide them to future-proof growth. The Helsinki-based 15/30 shares their insights biweekly at ArcticStartup.