Yes, this issue is on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Not Appreciative Inquiry. Will devote another issue, later.
Ok, you are forgiven if you decide to skip.
But. What if AI is your most likely OD future practice? How will you usher it in your organization?
AI is a now a popular OD disruptor. While still in experimental stages, it has popped in all types of organizations. Government, healthcare, logistics (warehousing, taxis, grocery delivery), business process operations, entertainment, education and training, arts and culture, professional practice (medical, legal, accounting, engineering, HR, publishing and consulting). It could hit manufacturing deep and rapidly and soon. And the list expands on and on. Even experts find it difficult to separate the hype from reality.
And the Alien said: “Resistance is Futile!”
So. Will you resist AI? Argue endlessly for or against it? Or just accept that resistance is futile. Worry no more!
AI has landed! But how?
Imperceptibly. That’s how. A replay of how computing invaded our organizations, 3 or more decades ago. And that’s another change management’s “secret” sauce.
Large-Scale Change in Organizations
Let’s retrace how computing landed in our organizations. There were three ways.
First. Use the backdoor, then manage. Most people obtained the skill outside their organizations. Internet café, a training school, computer fairs, self-help books and manuals, or self-learn. No standard learning paths. Just their desire to be relevant. Plus the influence and moral support by their peers and friends. Eventually, their organizations became bubbling knowledge cauldrons. Know-how, tricks, tips and hacks were comfortably and trustfully shared with everyone. In short, invisible learning hubs!
Second. Pre-sell via an achievable promise! In the future, computing will take over your boring tasks. Underline “boring.”
Indeed. Computers replaced yesterday’s monotonous, uninspiring, and repetitive tasks. Word processing (typing, then), number crunching (calculator and tapes), databasing (rolodex and index cards), sorting mails, scheduling (calendars), clocking, and many others. They were zapped into oblivion. Replaced by our ever-available tablets and smartphones.
Third. Apply piecemeal, imperceptible, and convenient steps. As an OD practitioner in those days, I remember warning the concerned about job losses every time we upgrade our systems. No jobs were lost. Also to advance mastery, I purposefully added computing tips and tricks in all my talks and presentations. Practical performance boosting tips. Over time, people learned and eventually, mastered the equipment.
AI Got In
There we go! A story of change played in slow motion. AI penetrated our organizations the same way. No pizzazz and fireworks. It just happened!
AI’s backdoor was cloud computing. From the clouds, we got our information finder. Then our e-mails. Our online file and photo storage. Our domains and website hosts. Our online stores. And even our movies. Unconsciously, our organizations became subscribers.
It did not stop there. We wanted more functionality. So our productivity applications got their AI-powered upgrades. We got Siri and other digital assistants. Intelligent translators that learn to perfection as we use them. Zoom, Meet and Teams for communications. Canva for intelligent designs. Automatic reports and essay writers. Efficient project, team and schedule managers. Online teaching whiteboards. And more recently, chatbots. And all had free to try while you learn offers. If you used any of the above, then AI is in your organization.
Now, Let’s Experience AI
Have you seen how Gmail predict your addressee’s name after you entered “Hi.” Or use an AI-driven blog writer that spits a 1000-word essay after your 5-word hints. And it generates a hundred more as you discard what it initially gave you. And no plagiarism whatsoever. Or complain to a human-like chatbot about your recent e-Commerce purchase. How about automatically creating a musical composition with only 3 “seed” notes from you. Or make a one-of-a-kind painting by providing the AI painter with 3 words (say “squirrels,” “protesting,” and “politician”). Or try an auto video maker that transforms your text blogs into podcast or videos (or both) complete with either British, Japanese or Chinese male or female voiceovers. But without taking any pictures or videos! Hmmmmm.
Deploying AI
A high school teacher informed me that his students are using auto essay makers that they discovered online. Sure enough, they turn-in great essays in the class. Recently, MIT reported that China is experimenting with a large scale AI deployment for education for the world to emulate.
But you can still argue that no one is using AI in your organization yet. Could be. But shouldn’t there be? As OD practitioner, we need to spot them fast. Support them in some ways. So they can expand the AI practice in our organizations. Or, they will use them elsewhere. For now, AI are like a swarm of invisible electrons circling around our processes arching to be atoms to augment our need for better performance, decisions, predictions, and innovations. Indeed. We can usher in AI intelligently. Let’s manage the long wave of change. Shall we?
For now, it makes sense to ride the train. Experience and support it. But don't jump in front of it!
Notes
What Is AI? Its Benefits and Challenges. And What You Can do to Prepare for It?
We read for you….
Hind Benbya, Deakin University and Oxford Internet Institute (Australia and U.K.) Thomas H. Davenport, Babson College and Oxford Saïd Business School (U.S.) Stella Pachidi, Cambridge University (U.K.), Artificial Intelligence in Organizations: Current State and Future Opportunities, MIS Quarterly Executive: 19 (4). Downloadable here.
Build by Tony Fadell. Tony led the teams that created the iPod, iPhone and Nest Learning Thermostat. He learned enough in 30+ years in Silicon Valley about leadership, design, startups, Apple, Google, decision-making, mentorship, devastating failure and unbelievable success to fill an encyclopedia. Detailed Book Chatter’s review here.
ODPN Course: Essentials of OD with OD Experts: Ms Milalin Javellana and Ms Tita Puangco, happening on April 28-29, 8am-12nn, via zoom. Register here.
OD-led Employee Wellness with Schubert Caesar C. Austero Vice President and Chief Content Officer, ASEAMETRICS May 15, 2022.