The challenge of leadership in technology and education

The leadership qualities necessary today in technology, education, and other modern organizations include the ability to recognize rapid changes in organizational environments and ensure continuous transformation and adaptability to that change. The important skills of such leaders include understanding their own business, articulating vision, creating a positive culture, communicating effectively, and measuring results. Rapidly emerging technology is prone to misunderstanding by those who mistake the surface features of how technology works with the functional opportunities it provides. Organizations that transform processes in parallel by adopting new technologies can expect much larger productivity gains than can those who merely insert technology. The problems of memory, speed, and cost have been addressed; the new challenge of technology is making it universal. Education in America is in danger. The infrastructure is outdated and it is not oriented toward change. Jobs will follow competence. Although the challenges of leadership today, especially in technology and education, are great, so is the opportunity for impact and the excitement of bringing diverse skills to bear.