How Relationship-Centered Organizations will Shape the Fifth Industrial Revolution

One must know their own history to better understand where they are going.

Organizations have shaped human history and directly affected the story of the planet. Thus, to best understand where organizations are going in the future, it is necessary to first understand the past. In the recent 300 years, that history has been greatly impacted by the Industrial Revolutions.

• The First Industrial Revolution introduced steam-powered technology and mechanized tools. With this, people became more efficient and productive.
• The Second Industrial Revolution created mass production for mass consumption, while assuming a planet that will provide infinite resources.
• The Third Industrial Revolution focused on optimizing machine-efficiencies while being driven by a profit-mentality.

With the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, new technologies like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Big Data emerged. Technology could now replicate itself and help humans evolve. Yet, to step into a brave new future, old mentalities would also need to evolve. The mindset which views people as replaceable assets and disregards the damaging consumption of the planet’s finite resources must change.

People are not assets. They are human beings with emotions, creativity, and the ability to innovate while helping everyone around them. These connections are formed by relationships. When empowered by purposeful relationships, people converge their values with others to achieve long-term goals.

The relationship-centered evolution connects humanity and technology to purpose and the planet. The knowledge gained from the previous industrial revolutions will create an equitable world where everyone thrives together and preserves the place we all call home.

Recently, Business Relationship Management identified the triple bottom line which leverages relationships to drive value to People, Purpose, and Planet.

Human Factor – The recognition of an individual’s imagination and creative gifts.

Brand Factor – The opportunity to take pride in an organization and its Purpose.

Innovation Factor – The freedom for discovery of new sources of value and creativity.

Technology Factor – The ability to solve problems and issues that really matter.

Infinite Factor – The chance to belong to something that provides lasting, meaningful value.

These factors provide context for great work relationships. Relationships may change over time, but mutual respect of all the factors will lay a solid foundation for an organization to drive infinite value.