Successfully shaping the digital transformation requires ethics, values and responsible leadership, this DLD Munich session with Ilka Horstmeier (BMW Group) and Sarah Spiekermann (WU Vienna), moderated by DLD founder Steffi Czerny, shows.
A leading expert in digital ethics, Spiekermann helped develop a new IEEE standard on Value-Based Engineering.
The ideas was to create a value model that would help companies “understand what values should be driving their innovation, and what values need to be protected”.
With that in place, “the developers know exactly what to do”, Spiekerman says, “so that hate speech, privacy, autonomy problems, ownership problems – all of that, you can control it with technology.”
Leadership is not only about protecting people against the things that can go wrong, the ethics expert argues, “but also to find a mission for leveraging the potential of technology for the good. The sub slogan is also technology for humanity – and it means to go away from what the tech industry wants.”
In Ilka Horstmeier’s view, “leadership is driving transformation“ – and people should always be at the center of transformation. That means employees need to understand where management is going, Horstmeier emphasizes, but also requires responsible leaders to show empathy.
It can be challenging to meet all expectations, the BMW executive points out. The Ukraine war and the Covid pandemic have put enormous pressure on corporate leaders who have to manage multiple crises but also shape the future.
“Leaders need to withstand – and resolve – conflicting priorities”, Horstmeier explains. “It’s not about sustainability or profit. It’s not about tech magic or human centricity. It’s both.” And companies that manage best to find a balance “will be the winners of the transformation”, she believes.
