Timothy Pascoe - date: 2012/01/18 01:16 pm

Dear Kurt,

Wow! A long and detailed post. Thanks.

I like your abbreviation/acronym: 5W+H.

As you point out re AI, progress demands a higher and better workforce to provide the human input. I read something recently touching on this point in relation to current US unemployment. The author was arguing that many of the low-skilled may not find jobs again. It's not only an issue of what has gone to Asia but also how production has been made more sophisticated - requiring higher-level skills and more insightful thought processes from those, who are part of the process.

Many thanks,

Timothy

Kurt Rieger - date: 2012/01/18 11:41 am

All the things we need to think of are described. But there is more to it. Any list is only as good as we can measure the time it takes to attend to the list. Knowing the 5 minutes lost per employee per day for any reason is the key to business improvement as 100%+ overhead costs are no longer sustainable.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has changed the way people communicate and AI 'demands' an equivalent change in organisational structures, procedures and above all a higher level of knowledge of all people using the system. But there is more people charged with the maintenance of AI system need higher skills and an auditable paper trail of why, what, when, where, whom and how 5W+H a change has been implemented. Band aid solution anywhere in any AI systems leads to a loss of that intangible value, the company reputation as a minimum loss.

The lack of communications standards adds to this complexity hence the measurement of time itself has become an issue (a people issue) for which leaders need to change their thinking in order to achieve that competitive advantage and long term sustainability they so desperately seek.

The supply chain delivers its part of the overall safety/performance obligations in the case of SCADA, DCS, Automation systems the OH&S guidelines are clear on what the overall obligations are, but standard cannot prescribe how organisations are to implement the obligations and the risk ratio is 80/20 in favour of the supply chain for any AI system. Irrespective of regulations the common sense approach is, to manage the consequences of an AI incident (with hacking and cyberspace malice now a reality) because the overall obligations are a responsibility of the owners, whom need a holistic approach to Corporate intelligence and knowledge management such that the goal of the competitive advantage expected from AI is achieved.

Case studies are too numerous to ignore the change process essential to better manage time.

Food for thought Wireless is the next challenge as already discussed in the media about phone hacking the same principles apply to AI systems- the internet is great stuff but requires a new way of thinking in AI security.

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2012/01/16 11:27 am

Thanks, Peter.

It's a key lesson. We all start out believing our technical training and hence our hard skills are the foundation of our career. And, in some senses they are. But, as you say, over time the soft stuff (being easy to deal with and hassle free)counts hugely - particularly when the client has the choice between two people with similar technical attributes.

Timothy

Peter Cook - date: 2012/01/16 11:22 am

I could not agree more Timothy. One of my musical collaborators is a session musician who has performed for Celine Dion, Anastasia, Shirley Bassey et al and his 'soft skills' (punctuality, having no 'baggage' - physical or otherwise, customer relationship skills etc.) are more important than his 'hard skills' i.e. musicianship in this case - although he is of course excellent in this area as a given. Peter