Schlagwort: Decisively Digital

Decisively Digital — From Creating a Culture to Designing Strategy: Book is Now Available

My new book Decisively Digital — From Creating a Culture to Designing Strategy is now available for pre-order at most bookstores. The ebook is already available:

Book’s website | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | IndieBound | Thalia | published by Wiley

Check out 24 gripping interviews with Elissa Fink, Mohamed Abdel Hadi, Dr. Henna Karna, Derek Roos, Edna Conway, Kerem Tomak, André Rabold, Bora Beran, Florian Ramseger, Tatyana Yakushev, Patrick Kirchgäßner, Jordan Morrow, Yilian Villanueva Martinez, Lee Feinberg, Mark Kromer, Sarah Burnett, Andreas Kopp, Cameron Turner, Christy Marble, Prof. Dr. Patrick Glauner, Vladimir Alexeev, Sofie Blakstad, Sven Sommerfeld, and Ian Choo. Thanks also to Bernard Marr for the foreword, Patrick Walsh for editing, and everyone for supporting me in the preparation and reviews.

More about the book — from the back cover:

INSIGHTS AND APPLICATIONS FROM 24 LEADERS OF THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION FROM CREATING A CULTURE TO DESIGNING STRATEGY

Today’s business world is Decisively Digital. Across the business landscape, the leaders rising to the top are the ones who can think big-picture about data, AI, analytics, and beyond. How do we build new capabilities around digital, so we can push into the future with full steam? That’s the question at the heart of the twenty-four incisive interviews inside this unique collection of up-to-the-minute expertise from the people who are moving business forward.

With this book, your mentors are the very digital masterminds behind some of today’s top global organizations. Discover how tech giants are reinventing the world of work, how the financial sector is streamlining with data analytics, and what the latest AI research means for the businesses of today and tomorrow. You’ll also gain access to a toolkit of updates, further reading, and digital strategy ideas on the included companion website.

Discover the inspiration you need to evolve your business for the digital age and learn to:

    • Establish a digital culture that empowers people to work smarter
    • Implement data democracy and analytics to discover new capabilities
    • Generate tangible business results using new tech tools
    • Realize efficiencies with artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things
    • Apply real-world examples as you build your own future-proof digital strategy

“Alexander […] has brought together some of the brightest voices and smartest thought leaders from leading organisations across many industries, to bring you unmissable insights and real-world examples to showcase how technology can improve your businesses and drive business results today and tomorrow.”
—Bernard Marr, Futurist, influencer and best-selling author of Tech Trends in Practice and The Intelligence Revolution

“Decisively Digital is decisively executive. Great experts, great interviews, and great insights combine to a crisp, cohesive and powerful story. It would be quite a mistake for any (aspiring) leader not to dive into this book, so I will definitely put it on the list of mandatory readings for my future students!”
—Markus Maedler, Director Executive MBA Programmes at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

Thank you all who helped me to complete this book — and please feel free to share the news:

Meetings limited to 30 min and a 4-Day Workweek, Boosts Productivity by 40%: Microsoft’s Success Story

4 day workweek Microsoft experiment: performance boost by 40%
4 day workweek Microsoft experiment: performance boost by 40%

The 4 day workweek Microsoft experiment is a groundbreaking initiative that has captured global attention. By embracing a four-day workweek in Japan, Microsoft achieved a 40% boost in productivity. This article explores the details of the experiment, its implications, and how it aligns with the broader trends in automation and work efficiency.

The Future of Work and Automation

The 4th industrial revolution is upon us, and with it comes a new era of efficiency and productivity. Automation is transforming nearly all areas of our lives, allowing us to achieve superior results in less time. This evolution is not only reshaping our work but also improving our work–life balance. A century ago, a six-day workweek was the norm. The industrial revolution then ushered in the five-day workweek. Now, the 4-day workweek is not just a possibility but an inevitability, driven by technological advancements.

The 4-Day Workweek: A Historical Perspective

The concept of a 4-day workweek is not new, but it has gained traction in recent years. Companies like Microsoft are leading the way, recognizing that reduced working hours can lead to increased efficiency and happier employees. This shift is more than a trend; it’s a response to the changing nature of work in the digital age.

If you’re interested in understanding how Japan’s urban intensity contrasts with its evolving work culture, my Tokyo travel experience vividly portrays the relentless pace and energy of Tokyo. The very atmosphere that seems to demand a traditional, grueling workweek is also the backdrop for this revolutionary change.

Microsoft’s Experiment: A 4-Day Workweek

In a bold move, Microsoft tested a four-day workweek in Japan, allowing employees to enjoy a three-day weekend. By limiting meetings to 30 minutes and promoting remote communication, they achieved a 40% boost in productivity, measured as sales revenue per employee. This experiment proved that a shorter workweek doesn’t mean cutting salaries; it means working smarter.

This experiment reflects a broader cultural shift in Japan, a country where even culinary traditions are being modernized. In my post on Tokyo’s best sushi experiences, I discuss how top sushi chefs balance tradition with innovation—much like how Microsoft is blending conventional work practices with modern efficiency strategies.

Key Observations from the 4 Day Workweek Microsoft Experiment

  • Productivity Boost: Sales revenue per employee increased by 39.9%.
  • Adoption of Short Meetings: 30-minute meeting adoption rate rose by 46%.
  • Remote Work Success: Remote meeting adoption rate increased by 21%.
  • Energy Efficiency: Power consumption decreased by 23.1%.
  • Positive Impact on Work and Life: Changes and effects on consciousness/behavior were observed at 96.5% for work and 97.1% for life.

For those who’ve experienced the bustle of Shibuya Crossing, this shift may seem as chaotic as navigating Tokyo’s busiest intersection. However, just as Shibuya embodies the organized chaos of city life, Microsoft’s experiment shows that structure can emerge from what seems like an overwhelming change.

Decisively Digital

This blog post is inspired by a recent LinkedIn discussion and reflects some of the ideas in our new book, Decisively Digital: From Creating Culture to Designing Strategy. This book delves into the digital transformation journey, providing insights and strategies for businesses to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Ready to embrace the future of work? Explore the 4-day workweek and other innovative strategies in Decisively Digital (Amazon). Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn for more insights on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and business analytics.

5 Productivity Hacks to improve your Meeting Culture

Everyone has experienced days that are almost completely filled with meetings. Since business trips have become redundant due to the Covid-19 pandemic and you no longer need to plan in any travel time, it is very tempting to fill in the remaining gaps in your schedule with new tasks – and in the worst case, there is no time for lunch.

Is this the type of modern work we want to experience? Below we have put together some ideas and suggestions that can help to make your working day more pleasant.

1. 5-minute breaks after meetings

A 5-minute break after a meeting can be incredibly revitalizing – especially when meetings are often back-to-back. Outlook gives you the option to automatically schedule meetings 5 minutes shorter:

Once you have shortened your meetings by 5 minutes, you need to make sure that everyone sticks to it.

2. Blocker for lunch breaks, daycare, etc.

To make sure nobody schedules a meeting during your lunch break, a lunch blocker can help you here. Just create an appointment series:

If all the colleagues in your team create a lunch blocker for the same time, it’s (almost) like having lunch together.

If you also have children who need to be taken to daycare, kindergarten, or school, an appointment series can serve the same purpose here. As it is usually possible to make calls while in the car, you can also leave a note with your phone number in the appointment series so that your colleagues know how to reach you when you’re on the road.

3. Chat und Call Etiquette

When pinging colleagues on Teams, don’t simply write “Hello”, as each message distracts them from their current task. While you are typing the remaining message, your colleague is very likely to wait until you have sent it. Even though it might seem impolite or even rushed at first, it is easier for your colleagues if you get right to the point. It is therefore a good idea to type the whole message and send it in one go.

The same goes for calls. Instead of pinging a colleague before calling them and typing “Hello” or “Hello, are you free for a quick call?” it’s better to give them some information beforehand, such as the topic and the estimated duration of the call. For example, you could write “Hello, do you have 3 minutes to discuss topic XYZ with me?” That allows your counterpart to estimate whether they can take the time for this particular call.

For more information on chat and call etiquette, check out this link: aka.ms/NoHello

4. Reduce meetings

To reduce the number of meetings you need to attend, it is helpful to ask yourself the following questions before sending out meeting invites:

  • Can the question be clarified by chat or email?
  • Is this matter urgent or can it wait until the next regular team meeting?
  • Do we really need to involve everyone or are fewer participants enough?

Each meeting should be critically questioned and the most important meetings prioritized. Before attending a meeting, it helps to ask yourself the question: Do I have an active contribution to make to the meeting, or do I only need to read the meeting minutes?

5. Using AI-based technologies

Do not hesitate to actively leverage AI-based technologies. MyAnalytics gives you the option to automatically block focus times. With just one click, not only dedicated times can be blocked for you, but these blockers also automatically change your status on Teams to “Don’t Disturb”. Thus you can simulate, for example, your travel times. More information about the features of MyAnalytics can be found by following this link.

Outlook also gives you various options that can help you save time and focus on the essentials. You can use email rules to automatically move mail to different Outlook folders. For example, you can determine that all cc messages are placed in a separate folder. That allows you to dedicate time to reading these messages as required. The goal is that at the end of the day your inbox is empty (zero-inbox policy) so that you can start afresh the next day. You can also deactivate Outlook push notifications so that you are not distracted by pop up notifications during important activities.

What are your ideas for a more productive workday? We’d like to read your suggestions in the comments below.

Written by Sophia Cullen and Alexander Loth. This post is also published on LinkedIn. Also, this post has influenced some of the thoughts in our new book, Decisively Digital (www.decisivelydigital.org).

Decisively Digital book
Decisively Digital book

GPT-3: A Leap in Language Generation But Not True AGI– Insights from Decisively Digital

Explore the intricate relationship between AGI and GPT models like OpenAI's GPT-3, as revealed in the much-awaited book "Decisively Digital."
Explore the intricate relationship between AGI and GPT models like OpenAI’s GPT-3, as revealed in the much-awaited book „Decisively Digital.“

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making significant strides in recent years, particularly in the realm of generative AI. Among these advancements, OpenAI’s GPT-3 (Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3) has emerged as a groundbreaker. While its language generation capabilities are astonishing, the question remains: Are we any closer to achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)? In this article, we’ll explore the complex world of GPT-3, its potential, and its limitations, as discussed in my forthcoming book Decisively Digital.

The Evolution of Generative AI and GPT-3’s Arrival

Generative AI has seen considerable growth in recent years. OpenAI first introduced GPT-3 in a research paper published in May and subsequently initiated a private beta phase. Selected developers have been granted access to further explore GPT-3’s capabilities. OpenAI has plans to turn this tool into a commercial product later this year, offering businesses a paid subscription to the AI via the cloud.

The Capabilities of GPT-3

The evolution of large language models like GPT-3 is worth examining in the context of Natural Language Processing (NLP) applications. From answering questions to generating Python code, GPT-3’s use cases are expanding by the day. Generative AI has been escalating at an unprecedented rate. OpenAI’s recent launch of GPT-3 has created a buzz in both the tech community and beyond.

The software has moved into its private beta phase, with OpenAI planning to offer a cloud-based commercial subscription later this year. This move marks a significant stride toward integrating GPT models into business applications, bringing us one step closer to the AGI GPT reality.

The Marvel of GPT-3: A Milestone in AGI Evolution?

GPT-3 is a machine-learning model with an impressive 175 billion parameters, making it capable of generating astonishingly human-like text. It’s been applied to numerous tasks, from generating short stories to even coding HTML. These capabilities have been turning heads and inciting discussions around AGI GPT models. But is it all it’s cracked up to be?

GPT-3’s predecessor, GPT-2, laid the foundation for the current model. While the underlying technology hasn’t changed much, what distinguishes GPT-3 is its sheer size—175 billion parameters compared to other language models like T5, which has 11 billion parameters. This scale is a result of extensive training on data largely sourced from the internet, enabling GPT-3 to reach or even surpass current State-Of-The-Art benchmarks in various tasks.

The Limitations and Weaknesses

Despite its staggering capabilities, the GPT-3 model is not without its flaws. Despite its human-like text generation capabilities, GPT-3 is still prone to generating hateful, sexist, and racist language. It’s a powerful tool but lacks the genuine smarts and depth that come with human cognition. In essence, while the output may look human-like, it often reads more like a well-crafted collage of internet snippets than original thought.

Most people tend to share positive examples that fit their bias towards the machine’s language „understanding.“ However, the negative implications, such as the generation of offensive or harmful content, need to be considered seriously. For example, GPT-3 has been found to generate racist stories when prompted with specific inputs, which raises concerns about the technology potentially doing more harm than good.

Not Quite AGI

Many have been quick to label GPT-3 as a stepping stone towards AGI. However, this might be an overestimation. GPT-3 can make glaring errors that reveal a lack of common sense, a key element in genuine intelligence. As OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman notes:

„AI is going to change the world, but GPT-3 is just a very early glimpse. We have a lot still to figure out.“

Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI

Decisively Digital: The AGI GPT Discourse

My upcoming book Decisively Digital devotes an entire chapter to the role of GPT-3 in business and its potential to serve as a stepping stone toward AGI. From automating customer service to generating insightful reports, GPT-3 offers a wealth of opportunities for enterprises. However, the book also delves into the ethical considerations and potential pitfalls of adopting this powerful technology.

Concluding Thoughts: AGI GPT—A Long Road Ahead

While GPT-3 serves as an intriguing glimpse into the future of AGI, it is just that—a glimpse. We have a long road ahead in the quest for AGI GPT models that can mimic true human intelligence. As we navigate this fascinating journey, a balanced perspective is crucial.

To stay updated on these critical topics and much more, connect with me on Twitter and LinkedIn, and be on the lookout for the release of Decisively Digital.

Künstliche Intelligenz und Automation: Was macht das intelligente Unternehmen von morgen aus? Automation KI im Fokus

Automation KI: Transformieren Sie Ihr Unternehmen
Automation KI: Transformieren Sie Ihr Unternehmen

In der heutigen, schnelllebigen Geschäftswelt spielen Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) und Automation eine immer wichtigere Rolle. Die Integration von Automation und KI kann zu zusätzlichem Absatz, effizienteren Arbeitsabläufen und einer Verbesserung der Customer Experience führen. Aber wie genau kann ein Unternehmen diese Technologien effektiv nutzen?

Bei der Expertenrunde beim Roundtable zu Künstliche Intelligenz und Automation bei Computerwoche habe ich hierzu gesprochen. Wie ich betonte:

„Tableau hilft beim Überführen von KI in praktisch umsetzbare Erkenntnisse und das Voranbringen des gesamten Unternehmens.“

Alexander Loth

Hier sind drei relevante Fragen, die sich stellen, wenn Sie mit Künsliche Inelligenz und Automation Geschäftsprozesse standardisieren und automatisieren möchten:

1. Wie sehen geeignete Einstiegszenarien und Use Cases in die KI- und Automation-Welt aus?

Der Einstieg in die Künstliche Inelligenz und Automation sollte strategisch geplant werden. Geeignete Einstiegszenarien könnten in Bereichen liegen, in denen wiederholbare, regelbasierte Aufgaben ausgeführt werden. Zum Beispiel kann ein Chatbot die Kundenservice-Abteilung unterstützen, während Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Rechnungen und Bestellungen verarbeiten kann. Use Cases erstrecken sich auf unterschiedliche Branchen wie Finanzen, Gesundheitswesen und Einzelhandel, wobei die genaue Anwendung von den spezifischen Geschäftsbedürfnissen abhängt.

2. Welche organisatorischen Anforderungen stellt die Implementierung von KI- und Automation-Lösungen an die Unternehmens-IT?

Die Implementierung von KI und Automation erfordert eine klare Datenstrategie, die die Geschäftsziele mit den technologischen Fähigkeiten abstimmt. Darüber hinaus sind eine starke Zusammenarbeit zwischen IT und Geschäftsbereichen, die Einhaltung von Datenschutzbestimmungen, ausreichende Schulung und Unterstützung der Mitarbeiter und eine robuste Infrastruktur unerlässlich, um die neuen Technologien zu unterstützen.

3. Welche Technologien stellen IT-Abteilungen vor die größten Herausforderungen? Und welche bieten den höchsten Mehrwert?

Die Integration von Künstlicher Intelligenz und Automation in bestehende Systeme kann eine Herausforderung darstellen, besonders wenn ältere Technologien nicht kompatibel sind. Cloud-Computing, maschinelles Lernen, IoT und Big Data sind Technologien, die sowohl eine Herausforderung als auch einen hohen Mehrwert bieten. Die Wahl der richtigen Tools, Plattformen und Technologien hängt von den spezifischen Geschäftsanforderungen und Zielen ab, aber eine erfolgreiche Implementierung kann zu erheblichen Effizienzsteigerungen und Wettbewerbsvorteilen führen.

Mehr zu Automation und KI im Buch Decisively Digital

Automation und KI transformieren die Art und Weise, wie Unternehmen arbeiten, und eröffnen spannende neue Möglichkeiten für Innovation und Wachstum. Die Themen, die wir hier angeschnitten haben, sind jedoch nur die Spitze des Eisbergs.

Für diejenigen, die daran interessiert sind, tiefer in die Welt der Künstlichen Intelligenz, Automatisierung und Robotic Process Automation (RPA) einzutauchen, freue ich mich, mein bald erscheinendes Buch Decisively Digital: From Creating a Culture to Designing Strategy (Amazon) anzukündigen. Dieses Werk bietet eine umfassende Analyse dieser Schlüsseltechnologien und liefert praxisorientierte Einblicke und Strategien für Unternehmen jeder Größe.

Decisively Digital wird sowohl den Anfänger als auch den Experten in die Welt von KI und Automation führen, die Themen aber noch tiefer im Detail behandeln. Bleiben Sie dran für weitere Informationen zur Veröffentlichung und wie Sie Ihr Exemplar reservieren können!

Wie immer stehe ich zur Verfügung, um Ihre Gedanken und Fragen zu Automation und KI zu diskutieren, besonders da ich meine Erfahrungen bei der Expertenrunde beim Roundtable zu Künstliche Intelligenz und Automation bei Computerwoche geteilt habe.