The crux is in having a grip. Digitally mature organizations know what's going on, what to focus on and where there is room for rapid improvement. Less firefighting, more focus. Yet we see that many organizations are still in the midst of their digitalization adolescence. And that is not without risks.

How do you recognize a digital adolescent?
No complicated models are needed to measure whether an organization is still "digitally adolescent. Just look at how things are running. Do you recognize this?

• IT works in separate islands, everyone has their own tools, definitions and data. No central data model, much discussion about ownership.
• IT strategy mostly revolves around hype and hope. "AI will soon solve everything!" - but in the meantime.
• Data is not readily available. Essential information is hidden in applications, external systems or with chain partners.
• Auditors keep checking because governance is lacking and nobody is really responsible for data quality or privacy.
• Only a few specialists know how to get good management reports from the systems.
• AI projects fail because the required data is simply not in order.
• And perhaps most importantly: people find it difficult to move with it. The organization feels unwieldy, innovations fail, and trust in digital tools is lacking.
  
  Sound familiar? Then there is work to be done. The question is: how do you get out of this?

Digital maturity: more than just technology
Digital maturity is not just about technology. It's about how an organization as a whole - people, processes and technology - deals with digital challenges. The higher the maturity, the better the organization can keep up with what's coming at it.

Yet it is difficult to get projects that contribute to maturity off the ground. There is often no direct ROI attached to them. Governance, data quality, standardization - these are not sexy topics. But they are crucial.

Invest in what remains under the radar
If you really want to move forward as an organization, you need to invest in the less visible parts. Think about data management, a clear data strategy and better ownership and governance.

This may not yield quick success, but it is the building blocks that will make you future-proof. You can switch faster, innovate smarter and deal better with change. That is where the real profit lies.

So: do you want to leave adolescence behind? Then start building that solid digital foundation. Not a quick fix, but a step towards true digital maturity - exactly what your organization needs.