SME Day 2018: Think big and clear - decide with confidence

Tobi Wolf opened the SME Day 2018 as host. He also presented the SME Day study that was conducted on the conference topic. It shows that decisions today have to be made ever faster and without complete information. The aspect of intuition - gut feeling vs. ratio - has gained in importance, according to another conclusion of the survey among current and former SME Day participants. In general, SMEs were satisfied with the decision-making culture in their companies. However, some entrepreneurs might wish for something like a "video evidence" like in football, where a disputed scene can be re-evaluated and, if necessary, decided again. "Cultivating a culture of error is one approach," recommended Tobi Wolf in his opening address, and he urged people to have more courage to allow bad decisions to be made.

Also a topic at the SME Day 2018: Digitalization

Decisions, especially rational and fact-based ones, will be taken more and more by artificial intelligence in the future. Prof. Dr. Elgar Fleisch, Professor of Technology Management at the University of St.Gallen, spoke about this in his presentation "The Digital Gut". This title implied that machines might also be able to make emotional decisions one day. But there is no talk of that at present: Machines should primarily be able to perform certain activities better and more perfectly than humans. Elgar Fleisch cited image recognition as an example. This is a key technology, for example for the development of self-driving vehicles. But everywhere in digitization, there will be no future without humans. "Digital and physical are growing together to form hybrid solutions," said Elgar Fleisch. Humans continue to take over the "common sense" that a machine cannot have; regulations are needed as to what ethics a machine must have.

Digitization also plays a role for a traditional product like "Basler Läckerli". This became clear from the presentation by Miriam Baumann-Blocher, owner, Managing Director and Chairman of the Board of Läckerli Huus AG. In particular, sales are increasingly taking place via online channels, but traditional direct customer contact at the points of sale is still more important. New products, such as chocolate, are also intended to address new customer segments, as the speaker explained. "We opt for tradition and Innovation," said Miriam Baumann, who described herself as a "non-risk guy" in the subsequent conversation.

Do not demonize machines - do not exaggerate nature

Myriam Locher, founder and CEO of Bettermind, gave a real "wake-up call" to the audience, showing how artificial intelligence teaches us to think bigger. "The rhetoric around digital transformation is still too peaceful," she said right at the start. "I don't believe in the calm that is still here". After all, she said, artificial intelligence will provide a growth spurt worth 15.7 trillion (sic!) U.S. dollars by 2030. It is regrettable, however, that machines are still demonized too much, Myriam Locher explained. She did not gloss over the fact that automation and digitization will cost jobs. Farsightedness is therefore necessary in order to be prepared when the big push really comes. To the entrepreneurs who want to actively shape the digital transformation, she appealed: "Change is not a great thing. But hang in there until the breakthrough comes. Because if something works right at the beginning, then you may not have thought big enough."

A counterpoint to this was the multivision lecture by Hansjörg Hinrichs. "How to decide in the South Seas?" was the topic of his presentation. He shared some of his experiences from his many trips to the primitive peoples of the Pacific region with the audience. The quintessence: Decisions are made among primitive peoples in conversation among the tribal elders. Decisions are thought about, but at some point an action has to be taken - in the sense of an intuition for the right moment. Hansjörg Hinrichs gave the audience the following advice: "If we manage to change our tempo into rhythm, then the measure is right again.

"Privilege to decide"

The last part of the presentation was given by book author Rolf Dobelli and former top referee Markus Merk. The former explained the "art of clear thinking" in a relaxed but lucid manner by exposing typical mistakes in everyday life. "If you don't analyze the mistakes in great detail, you will make them again and again," the successful author advised. Markus Merk, in turn, enthusiastically and with many examples from his international career, gave important advice on how to "make(er) up your mind" in companies as well. Analogous to his work as a referee, he said, it is important to be permanently in areas of tension, but to use leeway as opportunities. And ultimately, it is a privilege to be able to decide.

The current SME guidebook, which the organizers of the SME Day 2018 gave to the visitors, can also be understood in this sense: The authors Urs Fueglistaller, Roger Tinner, Walter Weber and Tobias Wolf provide concrete answers to 7 x 3 questions and pragmatic tips and advice on the "startup spirit in SMEs". The guidebook explores the question in which areas classic small and medium-sized enterprises can benefit from very young startups, their strategies and fundamentals. Handy and readable in small bites as bedtime or break reading. To order via info@kmu-tag.ch.

The next SME Day will be held on October 25, 2019. Further information: www.kmu-tag.ch