How Digital Leaders Leverage AI Strategies with Human-Centred Design in 2024
Leaders across all organisations and government departments have their work cut out for them in 2024. We’ve moved beyond general scepticism around AI and are now in a phase of adoption. But every plan requires key objectives and KPI’s, a path to success and how to measure it.
New year’s resolutions may be fanciful, but January of any year is a good time to evaluate goals for the year to come. (Actually it’s probably a good time to be thinking 12 months ahead, but we only have so much bandwidth!). We’ve put together some points on pairing AI and HCD across all business strategy.
1. Enhance Business Integration with Human-Centred Design
In 2024, tech leaders in government need to intertwine AI into other departments. IT is not just a home for enabling technology, but a key collaborator with business areas and should drive the innovation conversation. Human-Centred Design (HCD) can facilitate this by focusing on understanding the needs and workflows of different departments, ensuring AI solutions are tailored to enhance collective performance and collaboration. It is not just a theoretical approach. We aim to define improved business solutions by understanding the critical needs of employees and the public.
2. Develop Adaptable, Agile Teams
To stay responsive to supporting changing business needs in the context of AI, more and more leaders are shifting towards flexible team structures. Phasing out structures that are hierarchical and promote unconscious divisive behaviours allows for quicker changes in focus, rather than unfocused outcomes. By prioritising the needs and strengths of team members through a human centred lens, we encourage a culture of adaptability and innovation, crucial in a landscape rapidly evolving with AI and other technologies.
3. Demystify AI Through Inclusive Dialogue
Simple AI techniques have been leveraged within information tech teams for years now. And with the more recent swift uptake of AI in everyday processes increase, many see it as being integral to growth and efficiency. Which means addressing the concerns and questions around it is essential. Humans will always want to weigh risk and reward, and opinion coupled with seniority is not what will win the argument. A balanced but structured plan of communication is essential to ensuring that these discussions are accessible to all employees. Taking into account varying levels of understanding and perspectives on AI, we foster a more AI-literate and engaged workforce.
4. Pursue Ambitious AI Objectives (but sustainably so)
Growth feeds off AI, creating positive feedback loops, and will increase the speed of development and innovation cycles. This speed of innovation possibility also creates a new set of issues and risks to understand and manage.
Applying HCD in this context can be an accelerator for AI adoption, but in a way that yields true ROI. It means getting proactive about showcasing the possibilities of AI, and involving users early in the AI innovation process, ensuring that AI solutions are anchored to the real needs of the business in a user-friendly way, and will effectively meet the diverse needs of the organisation.
With a balanced perspective, forward thinking strategies and a little human guidance, leaders can bring AI into their organisations as a powerful catalyst for change. The future of work is happening, and fast – business leaders everywhere have the power in their hands to promote change and leverage the power of AI with the needs of their staff and the business.