Seems that for over 40 years robots and forms of artificial intelligence (AI) have been promised and yet failed to deliver the sophistication expected. Yet the new age is here, where new advances may soon provide a good base for robots to be rolled out and various forms of AI to achieve new heights. The advances in logarithms, new hardware and software, new processing speeds will likely join with emerging 5G and location accuracy that will enable the new technology to encroach on a vast array of human work. Sure the change wont replace all work tomorrow, but it will emerge quickly and evolve over time in waves as new code is written and as new functionality is mastered.
Some may not be concerned and will leave the change plans on technology for the future till later. Others may see that the environment of disruption is different, where inter-connectivity of globalization now enables change to quickly be replicated and shared, where staying out of change may now be impossible. So the question is not about if the technology will start to encroach on human work , but when? and by how much ?
Seems to me that organizations of all sorts should already be engaging with staff, customers, supplier and investors about how human work will soon change and be taken over by technology (be that AI of robot). Waiting till your competitors gain advantage by adopting new technology may be too late and very hard to catch up. Your disruption plans should already have the many of the ideas about technology on them (consult my book if you are unsure what this is or how to prepare) - so too should you have a strategy to inform and consult with your stakeholders.
Staff in this new age of disruption need to be included as part of your management team, they need to be informed of your disruption register, the technological environment and need to have a say about your decisions and directions. Keeping staff at arms length may no longer be appropriate when the environment is fast moving, uncertain and risky - engaging closely with staff on their ideas, their options and their feedback of your ideas is important to be almost a seamless activity in the future. Waiting for an annual or irregular staff meeting may be too slow for this future ahead.
Customers and investors like staff should be considered as key partners to your organizations decision making processes - may be confronting for some but the new faster environment may need all stakeholders to engage closely with the organizations decisions. Customers may need to know what your technology changes are likely to be so they can provide feedback and engage in those decisions - with integration your choices affect both customers and suppliers.
Investors that may have once set annual targets and then left the organization operations to the management may also be inappropriate in this new age. Strategy and goals may need to be regularly adjusted as new technology and competitive advantage moves quickly with new technological functionality. Requesting capital or changes to targets may need to be less formal and more frequent if technology changes in waves often as expected.
There is so much that will change in disruption, leadership will not be the same so consider these points and read more on disruption today in order to be ahead of the rest, preparing your organization for the future of change.
Consider hiring leaders now with additional skills ready for Disruption ! avoid the lost opportunities of having managers without the leadership skills required.
If you are a Leader or seeking to be one in the future - you need to read, read, read about Disruption NOW ! Those that fail to understand and adjust will fall behind.
Feel free to ask Dr Mat via a chat or email on Leadership, Management or change issues, advice, consulting or mentoring that you may seek.
These and other related topics feature in Dr Mats book titled "Leading and Managing Change in the Age of Disruption and Artificial Intelligence" - written for the modern professional, student and academic - in fact anyone wanting to be ahead on modern Leadership and Management issues.
Dr Mats latest book is available through Amazon (kindle version or hard copy can now be purchased) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1787563685 . This book has been strongly endorsed - so use this link to review the endorsements, or to preview Chapter 1, table of contents and the preface from Amazon (kindle version button) - consider buying this book or recommend it to professional colleagues or friends/family, students and academics. Dr Mat also writes for a number of professional/ other magazines, podcasts, webinars in his quest to spread knowledge on these modern important topics. So he is available for presentations, key note, private briefings and mentoring to assist your organization prepare for the future.
Dr Mat is also on Twitter - @DrMat14
Consider your own specific situation and seek professional advice before acting directly in reaction to any of the tips on this website, they are intended as general advice only.
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