The New Business Realities reading (in Unit 1 studies and also posted below under Resources) introduces a common theme of...

The New Business Realities reading (in Unit 1 studies and also posted below under Resources) introduces a common theme of undergraduate learning at Capella University. As you read the descriptions of the five driving forces, take notice of the consistent and dramatic transition from things to people. To highlight this, examine the table with columns for the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The twentieth century column focuses on mechanical things, such as production equipment, plants, buildings, and efficient, structured processes. The twenty-first century column emphasizes people: what they know, how they communicate, how they organize, and what they can dream and create. Each driving force moves from mechanical to organic. Using a business perspective, focus on how business professionals are affected by the New Business Realities.

The New Business Realities document paints a picture of transformative change. Select two of the driving forces and consider your past experiences in the context of these changes. For the two driving forces that you select, write about the influence each has had on your professional life. For example, how has the practice of continuous change affected your management skills or interpersonal communication skills? This is meant to be an introduction to the driving forces not an exhaustive analysis. Use subheadings to indicate the exact title of the reality (from the first column of the reading) that you are discussing. Your main post should have two distinct sections, one for each of the driving forces you are discussing.

As you complete this discussion, avoid performing research and using citations. Internet research is not needed because you are sharing your thoughts and experiences and not those of another author. To assure your participation meets the expectations, refer to the GREAT Discussion and Feedback guidelines provided in the Resources.

Post your initial discussion (main post) by Thursday to allow time for your peers to respond.The minimum to maximum guideline for your Main Post with quality academic writing is 300 to 800 words.

1. Knowledge – Primary Source of Wealth. Knowledge, as the intangible asset of intellectual capital , has now become the primary source of wealth and power in business and society in general. This mostly displaces the tangible assets industrial capital of plant, equipment, energy,and financial capital. Business management and leadership must be rethought to account for the different and surprising characteristics of knowledge, the new primary capital.

2. E- Business Systems – The New Infrastructure. Electronic business systems are the new primary infrastructure of networked organizations. These new electronic infrastructure systems both replace and leverage the traditional physical infrastructure of business, such as warehouses, central offices, paper-based transactions, and other material business systems.

3. Net Communications – New Communities. Extensive networked communications in business and society are enabling new forms of community. Conversations in the new networked communication media of e-mail, chat, voice, and visual media are changing both the messages and the messengers in the newly formed communities and communications.

4. System Dynamics – Transformative Change. New system dynamics are at work in the economy—everything is speeded up. Now change is faster, unrelenting, and more transformative than at any time in history. In addition, a new understanding of the process of change is emerging as the new sciences of chaos and complexity develop. Business and society need to be rethought in terms of rapid transformative change, using the new insights of the hidden order in the chaos of complex, adaptive, and dynamic systems.

5. Social-cultural Expectations – New Stakeholders. Social and cultural expectations are changing in rapid and transformative ways that need to be recognized for wise management and leadership of organizations. These new social and cultural expectations take the form of a new and expanded set of stakeholders who now believe they have a legitimate stake in the conduct and performance of private and public organizations impacting society.