The document discusses how the rate of change outside organizations is accelerating and the importance of organizations keeping pace. It notes that in recent decades, the average lifespan of S&P 500 companies has dropped from 67 years in the 1920s to just 15 years currently. Other trends highlighted include the growth of social media, big data, crowdsourcing, and new forms of online collaboration and financing. Virtual worlds and 3D printing are presented as emerging technologies that could further transform how products are developed and businesses are structured in the future.