- This happens far too often:
A new tool or technology gets rolled out
and the people who use that tool the most aren't consulted.
I've witnessed how negatively
it impacts employee satisfaction
since AI seems to be a tool that is cross-functional,
and there may be no established plan yet,
it's being integrated in a similar way.
Unfortunately, it's causing the same sort of frustrations.
Studies find that when employees are involved
in the consideration of new technology's further upstream,
they're more likely to embrace the change.
When the end user is part of the design
and implementation process,
they're more likely to catch potential flaws
in user experience,
making the tool higher performing and easier to use.
It's also good for morale
because leaders are seeking input,
showing they trust their employees
to offer helpful insights.
One of the ways we can bring in the appropriate stakeholders
is to initiate an AI task force,
a small group of employees
who come together across the organization
to focus on how AI will be leveraged,
like an AI brain trust.
This team will help you test, refine,
and roll out AI tools in a way
that makes sense for everyone.
Global consulting firm Accenture set up their AI task force
to include data scientists, business strategists,
and client service managers.
They set up AI innovation labs
where employees could experiment with AI tools.
This helped drive homegrown innovations
that they still use today.
The task force also developed AI ethics training programs
to make sure all of the applications
were aligned with the company's values.
Since Accenture's main line of business is client-facing,
the AI task force included client feedback
to tailor tools that would meet their needs.
This was a highly collaborative approach
and has been recognized as a best practice
for other consulting firms who are adopting AI as well.
Another terrific AI task force model comes out of Unilever,
a multinational consumer goods company.
The task force prioritized AI applications
that supported Unilever's sustainability goals.
They looked to AI to optimize supply chain logistics
to reduce carbon emissions
and to analyze consumer behavior
for more sustainable product offerings.
They ran engagement campaigns that highlighted
how AI would help Unilever achieve its sustainability goals,
making the connection between technology
and purpose clear to all employees.
I really appreciate how their task force
created this open feedback loop with employees,
asking them to share their experiences with AI tools
so the team could continuously improve the applications.
The AI integration led by the task force
has been an enormous success for Unilever.
They recently achieved a 31% reduction in carbon emissions
across their logistics operations.
They've also been able to make
their cleaning products safer,
which is a big part of their sustainability goals as well.
An AI task force also plays a key role
in upskilling your workforce.
This would include developing customized training programs
that focus on AI literacy, technical skills,
and the integration of AI into everyday tasks.
The task force in this case would be responsible
for bringing together experts
to create learning modules, host workshops,
and provide hands-on experience with your AI tools.
The task force would regularly collaborate
with department leaders to identify opportunities
where AI can drive innovation or sustainability.
They'd ensure all their initiatives align
with strategic goals
and monitor progress through key performance indicators,
adjusting the strategy as needed.
The AI task force has an exciting and challenging role
as it tries to balance supporting the organization's mission
and preparing employees for the future.
Not an easy job, that's for sure.
That's why next, we're going to learn
how to identify the skills gaps on our team
so we can support them with the training
and development they'll need to be future-ready.