I’m taking Thursday and Friday off for personal reasons, so I’m giving you your Friday Big Ideas early.
Diamond Siu in Insider looks at how networking has changed. Not wires, but people, citing how The pandemic has brought significant changes to networking. The decline in in-person touchpoints has led to a shift towards virtual networking through social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook. Cold, direct messages have become more effective, and the lines between professional and personal networking have blurred. However, there is still a strong desire for in-person interactions as people are eager to meet face-to-face and have meaningful conversations beyond recruitment. It’s a good reset.
Gabe Burke in US News argues, “It Is Time to End the War on Remote Work.” The article argues that the war on remote work should end, as employers’ insistence on in-office attendance is met with resistance from employees. The benefits of in-person interaction are acknowledged, but it is emphasized that control over where people work should be given to individuals. Attendance requirements are shown to be ineffective and can lead to adverse reactions and decreased productivity. The article suggests that employers should embrace the trend of flexible work and allow employees to choose where and how they collaborate.
And finally, a piece from Harvard Business Review. Historically, technology arrives in clusters, and the same applies to AI. While AI has great potential and hype, progress and success with AI will require concerted efforts beyond just the technology itself. High-quality data, organizational capabilities, and societal accommodations are crucial for the widespread adoption of AI. Companies must address data quality issues, develop the necessary organizational capabilities, and navigate the societal implications of AI. Embracing these challenges and gaining the full commitment of senior leadership will increase the chances of success in AI implementation.
I talked already about remote work, and just wanted to highlight more thinking here. There’s an angle in how meeting people and networking will happen… I’m just not sure I’ve figured it out.
The recognition that AI success depends on more than just technology emphasizes the role MSPs can play in providing comprehensive solutions. MSPs should be thinking about how they can offer services that not only include AI technologies but also the necessary organizational training, data quality management, and even ethical considerations. Again, a service.