CIO OPINION
Human Resources is another team where skillsets are becoming increasingly technical , and data is a powerful enabler of employee services . Assessing employee experience , EDIB , training , personal development and recruitment , among many other elements , requires rigorous goal setting and measurement throughout the year . To facilitate this , HR teams regularly work hand-in-hand with SaaS ( Software-as-a-Service ) platforms , such as SuccessFactors .
Beyond the desk , sectors such as manufacturing are no different . What was once seen as a laborious role , is now much more technology-driven . My colleagues in manufacturing use the latest technological innovations such as the Internet of Things ( IoT ), Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) and Machine Learning ( ML ) day in , and day out , requiring a strong technological proficiency .
Why emotional intelligence is a must
Let me be a bit provocative and say that technology – although it ’ s moving fast – is the easy bit . Human behaviour and how the people in a business embrace and use the technology is the difficult and highly unpredictable part .
IT as a function should be business-focused . Technology is important , but only adds value when it enables business functions to do their job . Organisations are massively embracing Artificial Intelligence as an enabler for transformation . This collection of technologies – of existing and new technologies like Machine Learning , Deep Learning , Natural Language Processing and Generative AI – will impact each organisation , each function and many employees within the organisation in the coming years . The IT function plays an important role in the success of this adoption , by providing the necessary conditions like data , tools and training .
The theoretical efficiency benefits of technology and AI are indisputable , but these benefits will only be realised if we carefully and confidently consider the ethics , legality , and impact on our colleagues of rolling out AI and other new technologies , while also making sure our business remains competitive by keeping up with the pace of change . That requires more than technical skills . Emotional and cultural intelligence are needed .
Remaining curious
Just a year ago , AI was relatively new to the workplace , but it has arrived in force and there are no signs of technological evolutions slowing . As an IT leader , you need to be prepared to say goodbye to habitual practices and embrace new technology . Adaptability and curiosity , therefore , are now a must for an IT professional .
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