Rewired by Eric Lamarre & Kate Smaje & Rodney Zemmel Summary

Rewired offers a step-by-step playbook for businesses to transform digitally by building six critical capabilities: leadership alignment, talent development, agile operating models, distributed technology systems, data integration, and scaling innovations. It combines McKinsey’s proven frameworks, diagnostic tools, and case studies (e.g., LEGO, DBS Bank) to help companies achieve sustained competitive advantage.

This book is ideal for C-suite executives, digital transformation leaders, and managers overseeing AI or tech initiatives. It provides actionable insights for organizations struggling to scale digital efforts or seeking to overhaul legacy systems.

Yes, for its pragmatic tools like checklists, architecture diagrams, and implementation methods. While some criticize its technical depth, it’s praised for its structured approach to fostering innovation and adaptability in large enterprises.

The book focuses on:

• Aligning leadership on a digital vision.
• Building a high-quality talent bench.
• Adopting customer-centric operating models.
• Creating distributed technology environments.
• Embedding data-driven decision-making.
• Scaling solutions across the organization.

It emphasizes hiring and upskilling “T-shaped” professionals—those with deep expertise and cross-functional collaboration skills. The authors advocate for talent pipelines aligned with long-term strategic goals, rather than short-term project-based hiring.

Examples include Freeport-McMoRan’s AI-driven mining optimization, DBS Bank’s customer-centric digital overhaul, and LEGO’s cloud-based innovation strategies. These illustrate how companies implemented the book’s frameworks to achieve measurable results.

While the book predates ChatGPT’s rise, its framework is technology-agnostic. The authors argue that gen AI amplifies existing capabilities (e.g., data accessibility, agile teams) rather than replacing core transformation principles.

Some reviewers note its dense technical language and over-reliance on McKinsey-specific jargon. Others highlight a lack of granular examples for small-to-midsize businesses.

Unlike theoretical works, Rewired functions as a manual with executable blueprints. It’s often contrasted with Digital Transformation by Thomas Siebel, which focuses more on IoT and cloud infrastructure.

• “Digital transformations fail without rewiring the organization’s DNA.”
• “The race is won by those who make technology a daily habit, not a project.”

These emphasize cultural change over isolated tech upgrades.

The book advises phased modernization, such as using APIs to bridge legacy systems with cloud platforms, and fostering innovation through cross-functional “lighthouse” teams.

With AI adoption accelerating, its focus on foundational capabilities—like data governance and agile leadership—remains critical for companies navigating rapid technological shifts.