Overview
Digital transformation doesn't just raise ethical issues, it--in itself--is an ethical shift. Business leaders today are struggling to manage conflicting imperatives, those of the emerging digital world and those of the bureaucratic world of the past. The act of digital transformation requires a deep change in the moral outlook and ethical assumptions of a business. But how do we get there? Enterprise strategist and author Mark Schwartz shows how we need to learn to think differently about relationships with customers and employees. That the ethics of digital transformation is a matter of cultivating and applying virtues rather than applying rules. Ethics is not just a matter of refraining from doing bad things. It's a matter of building the world we want, and it's the job of company executives. Featuring a chapter on bullshit, a handy chart of excuses for bad behavior, and Schwartz's typically paradoxical blend of deep insight and pasta jokes, this book guides business leaders as they struggle to adapt their bureaucratic framework of ethics to the emerging landscape of the digital world. By the end of the book, business leaders will rethink what it takes to be an ethical organization.
Reviews
""A unique blend of ethics, agility and leadership in a thoroughly enjoyable style for digital business and technology leaders. Morality just got added as the new 'ility' to think about, virtuously!""--Dinkar Gupta, CIO/CTO, KPMG, Switzerland ""Adaptive Ethics for Digital Transformation is timely, relevant, and something many people need to read. With the rise of information sharing, unethical behavior at all levels of companies, and daily technology updates, ethical decision consideration is a must! Schwartz covers a range of ethical dilemmas, virtues, theories, and lessons learned through history in his typical entertaining style. I couldn't imagine a better way to postulate the ethical ramifications of digital transformation by reading a book that merges philosophy, quippy anecdotes (Frankenstein's Monster, the Gingerbread Man, Rumpelstiltskin, and more), and real-world examples.""--Kristina Grace Whitfield, Technical Advisor, US Air Force ""An insightful, thought-provoking exploration of the ethical landscape in the digital age, this book dove head-first into the everyday dilemmas that arise in the business world. With wit and wisdom, the author brilliantly tackles the complexities of modern ethics in the workplace, offering valuable insights and guidance for anyone grappling with the implications of digital transformation. This was a fascinating and engaging read that will change the way you think about the intersection of technology, traditional bureaucratic values, and new digital values. This book is a must-read for executives, employees, and anyone seeking to make responsible decisions in an increasingly complex world.""--Mansi Kapadia, Global Head of Innovation and Digital Transformation, Lazard ""Business transformation (Total Quality Management, Six sigma, etc.) is historically a risky proposition in most organizations. In Mark's latest book, he makes a compelling argument that digital transformation is made more complex due to the clash of identities as an organization moves from a rules-based approach to that of a digital enterprise.""--Scott Nasello, Senior Director of Engineering Productivity, eBay ""Few concepts are more important in this wild world we live in than ethics. Schwartz guides us through a colorful journey through the history of its meaning, in life and work, until that distinction ceases to make much sense, and is this new understanding of ethical values that will give purpose--and maybe save--organizations in the digital world. [Schwartz does this] in a lively and humorous style, through which we are presented to top philosophers and thinkers in a delightfully instructive way.""--Rodrigo Lobo, Partner at Nextep Investimentos ""I found it to be one of the most astonishing and rewarding books I've read in a long time....[Schwartz] takes us on an astonishing journey to understand why organizations behave in the way they do....For anyone who wants to more deeply understand how and why people and organizations work in the way they do, I recommend this book.""--Gene Kim ""I hope this book will inspire leaders of digital transformation to look beyond what is possible, and define their own virtues (or use [Mark's]) to determine what is sensible, and ethical, and that which helps people and societies flourish.""--Wouter Trumpie, Distinguished Architect, Salesforce ""Mark has no business writing a book like this. It's wonderful and deeply thought out, maybe even ethical. He gets to the parts beneath culture change that will sustain digital transformations. He provides a way to balance all stakeholders' needs and desires throughout the changes in delivery. Each of his books follows from the previous and gets to a deeper level of business change in an authentic and humble way.""--Joshua Seckel, VP Solutions, GovCIO ""Mark Schwartz has created a reference for leaders managing their way through the labyrinth of shifting expectations and ethical dilemmas in the digital age. Part guidebook, part historical non-fiction, part comic commentary, Schwartz's prose brings life to a topic often dry as chalk dust. The result is a cracking read that should have readers returning to its dog-eared pages as much for its entertainment value as its leadership lessons.""--Joe Anzalone, Vice President, Strategy, CareRev ""Mark's latest book insightfully addresses ethics in digital transformation, offering an engaging blend of humor, examples, and narratives. Delving into necessary mindset shifts and essential ""soft skills"" needed for successful digital transformation, Mark also highlights key virtues for success in this complex field. This must-read book is invaluable for leaders of government agencies and business seeking to successfully lead digital transformation.""--Daniel Franzen, CEO and Digital Transformation Advisor, Franzen Consulting ""This is an important resource for any leader in an organization going through a digital transformation, but beware that it will leave you with more questions than answers.... This book shows that undertaking a digital transformation has an important ethical dimension that's often not considered. Mark pulls hidden assumptions about ethics out of the shadows and into the light, so we can at least talk about them openly....At the end, I'm still not sure about the ethics of kicking a robot dog, but the robot vacuum cleaner definitely had it coming.""--Gojko Adzic, partner at Neuri Consulting LLP, author of Running Serverless, Humans vs Computers, Impact Mapping, Specification by Example and more ""This latest book from Mark Schwartz is an absolute delight--continuing his multi-layered and lyrical exploration of Digital Transformation. Mark unpacks complex topics with a deft balance of humour and wisdom, mixing deep analysis, personal insights, military history, philosophy, fairytale characters and pasta varieties. Whether, like me, you're a fan eagerly awaiting the latest in a well-crafted series or if this is your first time to Mark's writing. I guarantee smiles, reflections, and a greater appreciation for the challenges faced by organizations wrestling with the leviathon of modern ways-of-working.""--Richard James, Nationwide Building Society, Accenture ""Thought-provoking, yet practical. Real talk about ethics is lacking, and we see the unfortunate results all too frequently. Read this book, apply the ideas, and make an impact on your projects and teams.""--Lynn Langit, Cloud Architect Who Codes
"""A unique blend of ethics, agility and leadership in a thoroughly enjoyable style for digital business and technology leaders. Morality just got added as the new 'ility' to think about, virtuously!"" ""Adaptive Ethics for Digital Transformation is timely, relevant, and something many people need to read. With the rise of information sharing, unethical behavior at all levels of companies, and daily technology updates, ethical decision consideration is a must! Schwartz covers a range of ethical dilemmas, virtues, theories, and lessons learned through history in his typical entertaining style. I couldn't imagine a better way to postulate the ethical ramifications of digital transformation by reading a book that merges philosophy, quippy anecdotes (Frankenstein's Monster, the Gingerbread Man, Rumpelstiltskin, and more), and real-world examples."" ""An insightful, thought-provoking exploration of the ethical landscape in the digital age, this book dove head-first into the everyday dilemmas that arise in the business world. With wit and wisdom, the author brilliantly tackles the complexities of modern ethics in the workplace, offering valuable insights and guidance for anyone grappling with the implications of digital transformation. This was a fascinating and engaging read that will change the way you think about the intersection of technology, traditional bureaucratic values, and new digital values. This book is a must-read for executives, employees, and anyone seeking to make responsible decisions in an increasingly complex world."" ""Business transformation (Total Quality Management, Six sigma, etc.) is historically a risky proposition in most organizations. In Mark's latest book, he makes a compelling argument that digital transformation is made more complex due to the clash of identities as an organization moves from a rules-based approach to that of a digital enterprise."" ""Few concepts are more important in this wild world we live in than ethics. Schwartz guides us through a colorful journey through the history of its meaning, in life and work, until that distinction ceases to make much sense, and is this new understanding of ethical values that will give purpose-and maybe save-organizations in the digital world. [Schwartz does this] in a lively and humorous style, through which we are presented to top philosophers and thinkers in a delightfully instructive way."" ""I found it to be one of the most astonishing and rewarding books I've read in a long time....[Schwartz] takes us on an astonishing journey to understand why organizations behave in the way they do....For anyone who wants to more deeply understand how and why people and organizations work in the way they do, I recommend this book."" ""I hope this book will inspire leaders of digital transformation to look beyond what is possible, and define their own virtues (or use [Mark's]) to determine what is sensible, and ethical, and that which helps people and societies flourish."" ""Mark has no business writing a book like this. It's wonderful and deeply thought out, maybe even ethical. He gets to the parts beneath culture change that will sustain digital transformations. He provides a way to balance all stakeholders' needs and desires throughout the changes in delivery. Each of his books follows from the previous and gets to a deeper level of business change in an authentic and humble way."" ""Mark Schwartz has created a reference for leaders managing their way through the labyrinth of shifting expectations and ethical dilemmas in the digital age. Part guidebook, part historical non-fiction, part comic commentary, Schwartz's prose brings life to a topic often dry as chalk dust. The result is a cracking read that should have readers returning to its dog-eared pages as much for its entertainment value as its leadership lessons."" ""Mark's latest book insightfully addresses ethics in digital transformation, offering an engaging blend of humor, examples, and narratives. Delving into necessary mindset shifts and essential ""soft skills"" needed for successful digital transformation, Mark also highlights key virtues for success in this complex field. This must-read book is invaluable for leaders of government agencies and business seeking to successfully lead digital transformation."" ""This is an important resource for any leader in an organization going through a digital transformation, but beware that it will leave you with more questions than answers.... This book shows that undertaking a digital transformation has an important ethical dimension that's often not considered. Mark pulls hidden assumptions about ethics out of the shadows and into the light, so we can at least talk about them openly....At the end, I'm still not sure about the ethics of kicking a robot dog, but the robot vacuum cleaner definitely had it coming."" ""This latest book from Mark Schwartz is an absolute delight-continuing his multi-layered and lyrical exploration of Digital Transformation. Mark unpacks complex topics with a deft balance of humour and wisdom, mixing deep analysis, personal insights, military history, philosophy, fairytale characters and pasta varieties. Whether, like me, you're a fan eagerly awaiting the latest in a well-crafted series or if this is your first time to Mark's writing. I guarantee smiles, reflections, and a greater appreciation for the challenges faced by organizations wrestling with the leviathon of modern ways-of-working."" ""Thought-provoking, yet practical. Real talk about ethics is lacking, and we see the unfortunate results all too frequently. Read this book, apply the ideas, and make an impact on your projects and teams."""
"""A unique blend of ethics, agility and leadership in a thoroughly enjoyable style for digital business and technology leaders. Morality just got added as the new 'ility' to think about, virtuously!""--Dinkar Gupta, CIO/CTO, KPMG, Switzerland ""Adaptive Ethics for Digital Transformation is timely, relevant, and something many people need to read. With the rise of information sharing, unethical behavior at all levels of companies, and daily technology updates, ethical decision consideration is a must! Schwartz covers a range of ethical dilemmas, virtues, theories, and lessons learned through history in his typical entertaining style. I couldn't imagine a better way to postulate the ethical ramifications of digital transformation by reading a book that merges philosophy, quippy anecdotes (Frankenstein's Monster, the Gingerbread Man, Rumpelstiltskin, and more), and real-world examples.""--Kristina Grace Whitfield, Technical Advisor, US Air Force ""An insightful, thought-provoking exploration of the ethical landscape in the digital age, this book dove head-first into the everyday dilemmas that arise in the business world. With wit and wisdom, the author brilliantly tackles the complexities of modern ethics in the workplace, offering valuable insights and guidance for anyone grappling with the implications of digital transformation. This was a fascinating and engaging read that will change the way you think about the intersection of technology, traditional bureaucratic values, and new digital values. This book is a must-read for executives, employees, and anyone seeking to make responsible decisions in an increasingly complex world.""--Mansi Kapadia, Global Head of Innovation and Digital Transformation, Lazard ""Business transformation (Total Quality Management, Six sigma, etc.) is historically a risky proposition in most organizations. In Mark's latest book, he makes a compelling argument that digital transformation is made more complex due to the clash of identities as an organization moves from a rules-based approach to that of a digital enterprise.""--Scott Nasello, Senior Director of Engineering Productivity, eBay ""Few concepts are more important in this wild world we live in than ethics. Schwartz guides us through a colorful journey through the history of its meaning, in life and work, until that distinction ceases to make much sense, and is this new understanding of ethical values that will give purpose--and maybe save--organizations in the digital world. [Schwartz does this] in a lively and humorous style, through which we are presented to top philosophers and thinkers in a delightfully instructive way.""--Rodrigo Lobo, Partner at Nextep Investimentos ""I found it to be one of the most astonishing and rewarding books I've read in a long time....[Schwartz] takes us on an astonishing journey to understand why organizations behave in the way they do....For anyone who wants to more deeply understand how and why people and organizations work in the way they do, I recommend this book.""--Gene Kim, researcher and bestselling author of The Phoenix Project and The Unicorn Project ""I hope this book will inspire leaders of digital transformation to look beyond what is possible, and define their own virtues (or use [Mark's]) to determine what is sensible, and ethical, and that which helps people and societies flourish.""--Wouter Trumpie, Distinguished Architect, Salesforce ""Mark has no business writing a book like this. It's wonderful and deeply thought out, maybe even ethical. He gets to the parts beneath culture change that will sustain digital transformations. He provides a way to balance all stakeholders' needs and desires throughout the changes in delivery. Each of his books follows from the previous and gets to a deeper level of business change in an authentic and humble way.""--Joshua Seckel, VP Solutions, GovCIO ""Mark Schwartz has created a reference for leaders managing their way through the labyrinth of shifting expectations and ethical dilemmas in the digital age. Part guidebook, part historical non-fiction, part comic commentary, Schwartz's prose brings life to a topic often dry as chalk dust. The result is a cracking read that should have readers returning to its dog-eared pages as much for its entertainment value as its leadership lessons.""--Joe Anzalone, Vice President, Strategy, CareRev ""Mark's latest book insightfully addresses ethics in digital transformation, offering an engaging blend of humor, examples, and narratives. Delving into necessary mindset shifts and essential ""soft skills"" needed for successful digital transformation, Mark also highlights key virtues for success in this complex field. This must-read book is invaluable for leaders of government agencies and business seeking to successfully lead digital transformation.""--Daniel Franzen, CEO and Digital Transformation Advisor, Franzen Consulting ""This is an important resource for any leader in an organization going through a digital transformation, but beware that it will leave you with more questions than answers.... This book shows that undertaking a digital transformation has an important ethical dimension that's often not considered. Mark pulls hidden assumptions about ethics out of the shadows and into the light, so we can at least talk about them openly....At the end, I'm still not sure about the ethics of kicking a robot dog, but the robot vacuum cleaner definitely had it coming.""--Gojko Adzic, partner at Neuri Consulting LLP, author of Running Serverless, Humans vs Computers, Impact Mapping, Specification by Example and more ""This latest book from Mark Schwartz is an absolute delight--continuing his multi-layered and lyrical exploration of Digital Transformation. Mark unpacks complex topics with a deft balance of humour and wisdom, mixing deep analysis, personal insights, military history, philosophy, fairytale characters and pasta varieties. Whether, like me, you're a fan eagerly awaiting the latest in a well-crafted series or if this is your first time to Mark's writing. I guarantee smiles, reflections, and a greater appreciation for the challenges faced by organizations wrestling with the leviathon of modern ways-of-working.""--Richard James, Nationwide Building Society, Accenture ""Thought-provoking, yet practical. Real talk about ethics is lacking, and we see the unfortunate results all too frequently. Read this book, apply the ideas, and make an impact on your projects and teams.""--Lynn Langit, Cloud Architect Who Codes"
Author Information
Mr. Schwartz has been passably ethical in a wide range of organizations, public sector and private sector, large and small, good and evil, benevolent, and malevolent. As an enterprise strategist at Amazon Web Services, he works with leaders of the world's largest companies on the challenges of digital transformation: cultural change, organizational structure, governance models, investment strategies, and his favorite topic, overcoming bureaucracy. He has been the CIO of US Citizenship and Immigration Services and Intrax Cultural Exchange and CEO of Auctiva. His four previous books on IT leadership have earned him a passionate following that might very well be in need of ethical instruction. Mr. Schwartz has a BA in computer science and an MA in philosophy from Yale and an MBA in Unethical Studies from Wharton.
