The Next Era of Digital Transformation: From Projects to Systems
- Mark Newcomer
- Nov 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 5
By Mark Newcomer
Transformation Is No Longer a Project
For years, companies have treated transformation like a sprint — a project with a kickoff, a budget, and a finish line. But transformation isn’t a milestone; it’s a mindset. It is one that needs constant attention and risks momentum loss if not nurtured.
McKinsey calls transformation “the fundamental rewiring of how an organization operates.” (McKinsey & Company), highlighting a shift well beyond the boundaries of a project.
The next era of digital transformation is about shifting from projects to systems — from one-off wins to ongoing capability. From an older set of digital technologies to an AI-infused world. This notion of mindset is even more critical in a time when technology is changing rapidly and the foundation is still being set.
Projects Deliver; Systems Endure
A project ends when the Gantt chart does. A system keeps evolving — it learns, measures, and adjusts. It builds momentum, which often needs a reboot, but it leaves a lasting impact.
Research shows most organizations succeed at launching digital initiatives but fail to integrate them into how the business actually runs (MDPI, 2024). That’s why results fade once the project team disbands and or the mindset does not change alongside the project.
We are seeing this with AI today, where in many cases, the capabilities are ahead of the business and technology changes are not met with adoption and lasting process change.
To make change last, leaders need to move from implementation to integration. Ask:
What structure will sustain this work after go-live?
Who owns the outcome, not just the output?
How do we measure momentum, not milestones?
The Five Pillars of Modernization
Across our client work at NewCo Advisory, the companies that succeed treat transformation as a living system built on five connected pillars:
Governance & Ownership – Clear accountability in the business.
Data & Decision Flow – Turning analytics into fast, confident decisions.
Experience Architecture – Every channel behaving as one.
Capability & Culture – People empowered to evolve, not just execute.
Technology Integration – Old and new platforms working in harmony.
Systems thinking isn’t abstract — it’s pragmatic architecture for growth.
The Hidden Role: The Champion of Change
Every successful transformation has one intangible catalyst — a cultural leader or product champion.
They’re not always the project sponsor or the most technical person. They’re the one who makes everyone believe the hard work is worth it.
They translate strategy into energy. They remind the team what “winning” looks like when fatigue sets in. And they turn a checklist into a movement.
Without that connective leadership, even the best system stalls. At NewCo we often adopt this role for our clients or help our clients understand where, who, and how to to make sure this critical component is built in.
What a Transformation Mindset Looks Like
A transformation mindset shifts how organizations think and behave:
Start with purpose, not platform. Define the outcome before the tool.
Design for flow. Map how insight turns into action — and remove friction.
Find the champions. Someone owns the system’s health, not just its delivery.
Measure learning, not launch. Is the system improving every month?
Celebrate momentum. Make progress visible so teams feel the win.
One of our financial services clients is a great example of this transformation mindset. While the transformative project has the hallmark of the above and touches on many systems and processes, the purpose of the project and how it is constantly articulated is the key differentiator in the mindset shift happening in this company.
The focus on purpose allows other leaders and teams to act with a mission template versus a project approach. This alone is helping spur other new initiatives and ideas that help meet the purpose and extend the impact of the transformation underneath it.
The Leadership Imperative for 2025
Don’t run digital transformations as a project. Build a living system that outlasts any vendor or version.
Champion the culture. Invest in people who keep teams connected through tough cycles.
Integrate technology with purpose. Every tool must serve a decision, a customer, or a measurable outcome.
Measure progress by adaptability. The real ROI is resilience.
Final Thought
The organizations that thrive as we head into another big period of digital and AI transformation will be the ones that treat transformation as a culture, not a checklist. The ones that know what they are transforming how a company thinks and operates, not the platforms used. Whether your organization is thinking about or in the midst of a transformation, make sure to step back and ask the critical question: do we really know what we are transforming and why.
At NewCo Advisory, we help companies build systems that connect brand, data, and experience — and we help leaders become the champions who make transformation feel like progress.
Posted here on medium.com
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