Towards an Agentic Organization:
Assembling the Scaffolds for OD
In the realm of OD, change isn't merely constant. It's a formidable force. Evolving at an unprecedented pace, within just a month's span, we've transitioned from global warming to global boiling, witnessed the proliferation of AI-piloted legacy software, and now, TikTok will allow AI-generated posts. And as I started writing this post, ChatGPT upgraded my version 3.5. to 4o (pronounced as “4 omni”). It is faster, more features including languages, access to plugins and still for FREE. If you're overwhelmed by these rapid tech and societal shifts, you're not alone.
We're in an era where change permeates from every direction. Relentless and persistent. From the escalating climate crisis to the rapid advancement of emergent techs (like regenerative, renewables, green and blue tech, moleculars, fusion and AI). Indeed, the human to tech interphase in the OD landscape remains in perpetual flux. And for us OD practitioners, it's imperative to navigate these changes with agility and foresight. Perhaps, embracing a more deliberate approach to change, such as System 2 Thinking over the impulsive System 1 approach, could prove beneficial.
Augment. Don’t Replace!
Recently, I moderated an AI transformation webinar for a large business process organization. It proposed doing the virtual training for 130 operatives in 3 cohorts. I disagreed politely. Instead, I suggested the one-go alternative. It would be more fitting, efficient and cost-effective. I also reasoned that the AI tech is evolving at such a staggering pace. Developments emerge almost daily. A message delivered to one cohort may differ from the others. This may overwhelmed (or enhance the resistance) of the organization. resistant. I also suggested to adopt an augmentation mindset rather than the outright replacement of the organization's current tech assets, including talents, processes, infrastructure, and culture.
For me, augmentation as a transformation strategy was eye-opening. It resembles a gradual integration, akin to a romantic courtship between humans and AI. It's a process where we learn to coexist and collaborate with intelligent systems, fostering intimacy without sacrificing the essence of human involvement.
I explained to the client the pros and cons of augmenting. This may entail integrating traditional tools like the Office Suite with AI, such as transitioning from Office 365 to Microsoft Copilot. While this shift may be straightforward for some, for many organizations, it poses significant challenges in terms of cost and disruption.
Euphoric Reception
During the demonstration of GenAI's augmentation tools, the excitement in the room was palpable. Attendees marveled at the speed and efficiency with which tasks like report preparation, presentations, and document editing could now be accomplished. Not in days. Not in hours. Not in minutes. But in seconds. They also learned how AI reads (and commit to memory, mind you!), edits, marks up, and chats with internal and confidential documents. Witnessing AI's capabilities in real-time, someone exclaimed, "It's almost miraculous!"
So what’s next?
An Agentic Organization
As AI continues to evolve, so must our organizations. The concept of AI agents—autonomous software programs capable of independent decision-making—is no longer confined to science fiction. With the right investments in talent and infrastructure, organizations can develop AI agents that revolutionize how we work.
AI agents facilitate collaboration and information sharing within organizations, acting as virtual assistants for tasks like scheduling meetings and coordinating projects. As organizations embrace AI-driven structures, they can anticipate significant improvements in operations and service delivery. AI agents deployed in customer service roles provide personalized interactions through chatbots, enhancing customer satisfaction and reducing the workload on human representatives.
The Role of OD
As OD practitioners, it's our duty to shepherd organizations through this transformative journey, ensuring the responsible and ethical deployment of AI. By embracing AI agents, we unlock new avenues of innovation and efficiency, positioning organizations for success in an increasingly complex but highly democratizing world.
Let's seize the opportunities AI presents and navigate towards a future brimming with possibilities. Together.
Let’s listen to Andrew Ng, a globally recognized AI thought leader. He is the founder of DeepLearning Al and Landing Al, the co-founder of Coursera, and an adjunct professor at Stanford University. In a TED Talk, he asked: What if your local pizza shop could use AI to predict which flavor would sell best each day of the week? Andrew shares a vision for democratizing access to AI, empowering any business to make decisions that will increase their profit and productivity. Learn how we could build a richer society – all with just a few self-provided data points.
NOTES
Source: Daniel Kahneman in Thinking, Fast and Slow.
(a) Forthcoming Events for OD Professionals
1. ODPN Conversations. Coming this year. 3 transformative themes that will redefine how you engage, innovate, and thrive in your organizations.
Theme B: Cultivate Resilience (May - July) Grow stronger with Strengthening Sustainability with OD. Unearth secrets to: (a) prevent HR Burnout and keep the lifeblood of your organization pulsing with energy, (b) explore cutting-edge Regenerative Technologies that can rejuvenate your company’s eco-footprint, and (c) spell out the Business Value of OD in dollars and sense, and watch your investment flourish.
2. OD CONVERSATION: Authenticity in Leadership: The Leader's Emotions by Ms. Mercy Corrales, Past Regional President Starbucks Asia Pacific and Past President and CEO Levi Strauss Japan). May 16, 2024, Thursday | 10am-12nn Contact us: odpnsecretariat@gmail.com
3. In-person OD Courses led by our OD Experts: (a) Essentials of OD - Ms Milalin Javellana and Ms Tita Puangco and (b) Diagnosing Organizations - Dr Joy Teng-Calleja - June 20.
4. ODLab24 will happen on July 4 to 5 in the Sugarland Hotel, Bacolod City. Save the date. Watch for more announcements in this space.
(b) Ed Canela’s Courses
1. Building an AI-Enabled Organization in the Private Sector, Civil Service Commission (CSC) Institute, Leadership Series, 21 June 2024.
2. AI, DFIs, Climate Change & You for Association of Development Finance Institutions for Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), July 23 to 26,2022 Makati (by Invites Only).
3. 5th Data Analytics for MSMEs. 3 Saturdays (July, 2024) In-Person hands-on at the University of the Philippines Institute for Small Scale Industries (UPISSI) REGISTER NOW. REACH US AT: University of the Philippines Institute for Small-Scale Industries Room 401, Fourth Floor, E. Virata Hall, E. Jacinto Street, UP Campus, Diliman Quezon City, Philippines 1101 Trunk Line: 8981-8500 loc. 4054 or connect to our Facebook site.