Businesses put to the test by polarisation

Grow or diversify? Should we give people more autonomy or strengthen coordination? Should we accelerate our focus on artificial intelligence or consolidate existing processes first?
These are questions that cut across organisations at multiple levels, regardless of size or location, as they are torn between competing needs and a multitude of answers that leave many paths open. To seek shared answers, we need discussion, dialogue and reasoned argument that can strike a balance and sidestep the pitfalls lurking in our differences.
The organisations that are best keeping pace with the market today aim to find a point of convergence, aware that these are constantly evolving tensions that cannot be resolved once and for all.
The aim is to recognise the various layers of these tensions and learn to make them work together. There are various possible solutions, ranging from the design of modular platforms and flexible supply chains to replicate key elements such as personalisation. Distributing responsibility within these complex and fragmented processes means having a clear direction whilst remaining flexible at the same time.
Artificial intelligence executes, scales and facilitates, but judgement, context and the building of trust remain the preserve of people – processes that require a strong aptitude for dialogue and active listening.
It is this interpretation of change that gives its title to Symbionomy | Transforming polarities into value, the concept behind the second edition of Zing – Zone of Innovation & Growth, the event organised by Var Group and scheduled for 22 and 23 October at the Palacongressi in Rimini. Two days structured around four polarities.
There is the market polarity between scale and bespoke solutions, so as not to have to choose which direction to take, but to build systems that make uniqueness replicable. The second polarity is organisational and lies between initiative and convergence; the challenge is to unleash people’s proactivity, contributions and uniqueness without losing sight of a common direction. Finally, the operational axis, characterised by coexistence and collaboration between humans and AI agents, aims to build a healthy environment of co-evolution and transform it into drivers of growth.
Attendance is free (subject to registration) and offers an interesting opportunity for those in decision-making and leadership roles within organisations: over 2,000 attendees are expected, with 50 speakers and 40 IT brands across a 1,000-square-metre exhibition area.
22 October will open with a plenary session, chaired by Victoria Cabello, which will introduce the geopolitical presentation by Silvia Boccardi and presentations by Francesca Moriani, CEO of Var Group, Arianna Gregis, David Marquet, Francesca Lollobrigida and Martin Lindstrom. In the afternoon, the Industry & Business Zones will host parallel sessions dedicated to the HR, Manufacturing and Retail communities, showcasing results and experiences gained over the course of the year; the day will conclude with a dinner party and a live performance by Superpop.
23 October will begin with the tenth edition of Running Innovation: a five-kilometre non-competitive run in support of the “La Casa del Miele” project run by Aid4Mada Onlus in Madagascar. This will be followed by the Tech Session featuring AWS, IBM, Microsoft and Veeam, alongside David Attisano, Head of Data Analysis & R&D at Ducati Corse, who will explain how data collected on the track translates into a competitive advantage, and Davide Sarchioni, art curator at Var Digital Art, on digital art as an enabler of innovation and business. The closing plenary session will open with Andrea Pezzi’s human-centred vision of artificial intelligence and continue with Pim de Morree on organisational polarity.
Throughout the event, the Connect Café – dedicated to partners – will be open, as will the Zing Experience, offering 500 square metres of live demos, interactive installations and solutions to try out for yourself. And from 21 October, the BE THE BRIDGE – Between Polarities and Beyond, created with the support of Var Group’s Corporate Academy, will see multidisciplinary teams of young talent working for thirty-two hours on real-life business cases proposed by companies. One event, many playgrounds and learning opportunities: value is created where different perspectives begin to engage in dialogue.
The full programme and registration details are available on the event website, www.zing.vargroup.com