Thread by @EngagedOrgs

Microsofts 2023 Work Trends research is out.

3 Main Findings
- Digital debt is costing us innovation
- There’s a new AI-employee alliance
- Every employee needs AI aptitude

🧵with some thoughts

1/14

#DigitalWorkplace #DigitalTransformation #AI

microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/…

The report starts with something we have seen again and again; technology has dramatically degraded the #EX. People are overwhelmed, overbooked, and overcommitted with information and channels.

Read @rhappe's perspective here - engagedorgs.com/employees-are-…

2/14

The report identifies part of the issue as too much communication. It makes two implicit assumptions; that current communication rates are "too much" and that it can be assessed by looking at the applications being used.

There are issues with both assumptions.

3/14

Human work is only going to get more collaborative, which means more "focused" work will happen in conversations and interactions.

#AI will do more of the content creation. It's not what applications are being used but *how* they are used that matters.

4/14

The report shows the top 5 obstacles to productivity. The top 4 have little to do with technology and everything to do with management and leadership.

5/14

Not surprisingly, the report states that #AI can address these problems, starting with meetings.

However, meeting effectiveness is not a technology issue and having an artifact from a poor meeting is just noise in the system - cluttering and distorting what is meaningful.

6/14

Interestingly, many individuals see #AI as positive, with few worrying about job loss.

This hides the truth that governance always wins - and governance in most organizations is designed to minimize headcount. Employees are liabilities but not assets on balance sheets.

7/14

#AI is and will be a very powerful tool that will relieve a lot of burdens. However there are areas that seem a bit of a stretch in terms of what #AI can deliver.

And never having to search again? No. Much information needs context, trust, nuance and conversation.

8/14

Even AI - owned by Microsoft - needs humans for context.

9/14

gizmodo.com/chatgpt-openai…

Finally, Microsoft sees a host of new skills needed to maximize AI.

Notice anything?

These skills require much more investment to learn than coding or accounting. Will organizations invest enough? Is there enough capacity to support this skill development?

10/14

Skills like emotional intelligence, bias detection, and analytical judgement all require metacognition - the skill of understanding of how one thinks and how it differs from others.

Listen to this discussion with @rossdawson and @rhappe

11/14

thrivingonoverload.com/rachel-happe-m…

Developing metacognition requires coaching, mentoring, and diverse experiences. That has implications for managers and #leadership. People in those roles will need to be well-trained coaches, not project and program managers.

12/14

Back to governance - most org governance does not understand, track, of value these types of skills. Enterprise systems are oriented toward transactional or content outcomes. Balance sheets still only track the cost of these skills (high) and not the value of them.

13/14

So. Net net?

Some great content and data to discuss in this Microsoft Work Index report but a lot of unspoken assumptions, gaps in emphasis on the investments needed to reach its potential, and a healthy dose of naiveté.

--- @rhappe

14/14