In 2017, New Zealand was rated a ‘stand out nation’ according to that year’s Digital Evolution Index, released by Tufts University, Boston. But by 2020 the same index had New Zealand pegged back among the ‘stall out’ nations.

The Digital Evolution framework segments 90 economies into four zones: Stand Outs, Stall Outs, Break Outs, and Watch Outs.

Standout nations are among the digital elite, with high levels of digital development and a fast rate of digital evolution. They are nimble, adaptable, and have institution-led support for innovation. By contrast, break out nations have limited existing digital infrastructure but are rapidly digitalising, while watch outs have shortcomings in both existing digital capabilities and momentum for development.

Stall out nations have mature digital landscapes but slower momentum than standouts. Moving past a ‘digital plateau’ requires effort to reinvent, support rising technology, and remove blocks to innovation.

Where do you see your business: standout or stall out? Break out or watch out?

One way to be up there is to use digital technology to strengthen company culture. Social media can help change and support culture in a business by:

• Allowing information to flow in many directions rather than just from the top down
• Supporting learning through knowledge networks
• Making it easier to promote the brand within the business
• Enabling real-time feedback to management
• Helping the business cope with change.

What else could accelerate innovation in your business? If you’re not sure how to go further with this than you have already, why not explore possibilities with a business mentor or seek ideas and support for innovation with organisations such as Scale-Up NZ and Callaghan Innovation?