Introduction
A major technology manufacturer desired to programmatically improve its internal AI competency. DayBlink Consulting was tasked with designing an AI Community of Practice (CoP), launching the program and prioritizing the initial set of AI projects. The effort was sponsored by IT but spanned the product, security and marketing organizations. Each organization believed it should leverage AI to achieve its future goals without a clear perspective on how to do so, on the capabilities of the technology, on how to acquire the tools and expertise to achieve its objectives or on who would pay for such an effort.
Problem
The newly formed AI team lacked a structured approach to obtaining and prioritizing AI ideas, concepts and goals. These issues were compounded by an incredibly rapid rollout of new models and capabilities, establishing AI fluency as a fundamental priority. The team sought assistance in identifying ways to improve its AI maturity through an approved set of prioritized initiatives and the development of a Community of Practice (CoP) which would support the implementation. Historically, the IT organization received requests from the business and sought to implement/achieve those goals. In this instance, the IT organization needed to drive the strategic thinking around the art of the possible because the technology was new and poorly understood. Then the team believed it would be responsible for educating and convincing business leaders about the value of the future capabilities that were being established.
Solution
DayBlink Consulting began by collecting stakeholders ideas, active and desired projects, and future goals related to AI, automation and data. This involved understanding both the short and long-term objectives of AI capabilities and how a CoP could support these goals. Next we planned and facilitated CoP workshops with the team. These workshops helped uncover and align goals and to begin outlining the IT organization’s AI strategy. DayBlink Consulting led working sessions with key stakeholders from outside IT to understand future demands and if AI governance could reasonably be centralized. This collaborative approach ensured that the CoP was designed to meet the specific needs and challenges of the organization. DayBlink Consulting resolved concerns and uncertainties prior to launch. Once the planning was complete, the team prepared a launch calendar, defined success metrics and began managing CoP activities. This included setting clear timelines expectations. We developed comprehensive playbooks for CoP leaders to ensure consistent and effective future management. These playbooks included guidelines, best practices and templates for various CoP activities, providing a structured approach to managing and sustaining the CoP.
Outcome
The AI CoP had a transformative impact on the client’s AI maturity. Over the following year, as the AI model experienced a step change and Mythos concerns grew rapidly, the CoP enabled collaboration and knowledge sharing across the organization.
This has led to better utilization of tools and resources, optimizing the organization’s AI spend while costs have been increasing exponentially. The CoP also serves as a platform for exploring and evaluating new technologies, enabling the organization to stay ahead of emerging threats and adopt cutting-edge solutions that best fit its needs. Participation in the AI team has provided employees with opportunities for continuous learning and professional development.
Most importantly, through guided collaboration, the organization agreed on a prioritized list of AI efforts. Several of these have been funded and launched.