The personalisation and agility that Web 2.0 offers demand a different way of investing in change: make it fast, keep the investment low, take the benefits early and then do it all over again. Are our people ready? Yesterday I moderated a panel of Venture Capitalists, for a Technology Ventures conference at Cambridge University, England (www.cutec.org). It was an honour to be invited, and as always I learned much from the experience. The purpose of the conference was to explore the challenges and successes of starting up a business whose technology could change our lifestyle in future. The agenda included internet communication, sustainable energy, and personalised medicine.The panel I was invited to moderate, addressing the first of these subject areas, considered the question “What’s Beyond Web 2.0?” Here’s a summary of what I heard:– Web 2.0 is already a social movement rather than a technology one – It is significantly adjusting the relationship between employee and employer – It puts each of us at the centre of our own unique network(s) of collaborators– The mobile space may be where much of the action will take place– People are still figuring out the value of exploiting Web 2.0, but it may come to them all of a sudden– There are low barriers to entry in exploiting Web 2.0, in terms of cost and technology– The churn in Web 2.0 applications will be (much) faster than we’ve historically been used to. Were I a Venture Capitalist, thinking of investing in Web 2.0-related innovations and beyond, that last point would be of particular interest. It implies a shortening timescale between investment and exit.Similarly, it has implications for organisations investing in business changes that exploit Web 2.0. The risk of our chosen solution (people, process and technology) becoming obsolete, and quickly, may be much higher than we’ve been used to. So if we’re going to change, we’d better make it fast, keep the investment low, take the benefits early and be prepared to do it all over again. Throwaway investments in change. Two questions: are our people ready for these potential consequences of using Web 2.0; and how much of all the above is true of that other 2.0, Enterprise 2.0? Related content opinion Android Security Hole of the Week: Researchers ID New, Severe DoS Attack A group of Italian security researchers have discovered a new Android Denial of Service (DoS) attack that can render Google smartphones and tablets useless in a matter of minutes, making it the most severe Android DoS attack ever identified. By Al Sacco Mar 27, 2012 3 mins Small and Medium Business Smartphones Mobile Security opinion Trip to Ethiopia Trip to Ethiopia to meet with couple of microfinance institutions By Jiten Patel Jul 24, 2010 2 mins IT Leadership opinion CGAP - Virtual Conference Recap: Hurdles to Surmount for Microfinance - Capacity Building & Technology Good 2 day conference on challenges faced by Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) on the critical subjects of capacity building and By Jiten Patel Jul 09, 2010 1 min IT Leadership opinion CGAP Virtual Conference - Day 2 Jul 8th: Getting past the technology hurdles faced by MFIs CGAP Forum - Getting past the technology hurdles faced by MFIs By Jiten Patel Jul 08, 2010 1 min IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe