Mike Bechtel is Managing Director and Chief Futurist, Carey Oven is National Managing Partner, and Bill Briggs is Chief Technology Officer at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. This post is based on a Deloitte memorandum by Mr. Bechtel, Ms. Oven, Mr. Briggs, Jamie McCall, and Caroline Schoenecker.
Why it matters
Formerly a siloed and specialized topic, technology has become interwoven throughout many
facets of governance. Yet even for the tech-savvy, strategizing around the increasingly rapid
pace of advancement could prove challenging. Deloitte’s Tech Trends 2024 may be useful for
boards looking to separate the signal from the noise of current technology dialogues. According
to the report, upcoming technology advancements are poised to fundamentally change how
humans and machines interact in the workplace (and beyond). The board’s technology oversight
processes may (or may not) be prepared for that kind of potential shift. But in either case, there
are ways for boards to improve capacity in this area.
Development speed
Emerging tech’s speed of development may indicate a need to assess risks more frequently.
In us we trust
Technology can facilitate stronger connections with the board’s stakeholders.
Raising the (digital) bar
Consider increasing the minimum technology fluency expectations for directors.