AI Maturity Model For All Seasons: Unwrapping the Gift of Technological Progress
As the festive season is upon us, it's the perfect time to unwrap the intriguing world of AI Maturity in companies, just like you would a mysterious holiday present. Let's take a journey through the four phases of AI Maturity: Exploration, Experimentation, Innovation, and Realization, and see what each phase has to offer.
Exploration: The Wish List Phase
In the Exploration phase, companies are like kids with a holiday wish list - they're excited, opportunistic, and just getting a taste of what's to come. They're exploring AI in an ad-hoc manner, with their workforce sticking to existing roles and infrastructure. Think of it as dipping a toe in the holiday punch bowl - they're eager but cautious.
- People: Workforce operates within existing roles and structures, with some opportunistic upskilling.
- Platforms: Existing infrastructure and data are used for projects, with isolated upgrades made ad-hoc.
- Processes: Existing work processes remain unchanged, with entrepreneurial application of AI made opportunistically.
- Policies: Existing IT and code of conduct policies are unchanged; AI is interpreted under existing governance.
Experimentation: Decking the Halls with New Ideas
In this phase, companies start decking the halls with new ideas, experimenting with AI use-cases and upskilling their "mobilizers" (think of them as the helpful elves). They're testing the waters more rigorously, like trying out new holiday cookie recipes.
- People: Work teams are established to test use-cases; "mobilizers" are upskilled to support experiments.
- Platforms: Infrastructure is supplemented, and data is extracted and normalized to support experiments.
- Processes: Core work processes remain unchanged, but targeted use of AI is encouraged and funded; use cases are formalized.
- Policies: Governance teams are established to support and monitor experiments.
Innovation: The Holiday Gathering Phase
As companies move into the Innovation phase, it's like bringing the group the group together for holiday gatherings - they're intentional, mobilized, and codified in their application of AI. New roles are established, infrastructure is upgraded, and work processes are reengineered, just like adding twinkling lights and ornaments to the tree and hosting events with family and friends.
- People: New roles are established to support adoption, new teams are defined or reorganized, and reskilling is launched.
- Platforms: Infrastructure is upgraded to support long-term adoption of AI; data preprocessing for AI is implemented.
- Processes: Work processes are reengineered and implemented to support new business models; KPIs & OKRs are established.
- Policies: Governance teams continue to monitor and update policies as new processes are brought online.
Realization: The New Year’s Resolution Phase
Finally, in the Realization phase, companies are ready to put into action, their AI resolutions for the upcoming annual operating plans. They're operational, measured, and governed, with AI applications scaling across the enterprise. It's like setting into action, all of the preparation that the organization has taken in preparation for the new year and beyond - the workforce, platforms, processes, and policies all harmoniously integrated.
- People: The workforce is redefined to support new ways of work, with reskilling scaling across the enterprise.
- Platforms: Legacy infrastructure and tools are consolidated or decommissioned, with new toolsets scaled to meet demand.
- Processes: Work processes are scaled across business and functions, with KPIs and OKRs reported in an updated cadence.
- Policies: Governance teams monitor progress and update policies as per the governance model.
As we wrap up our journey through the AI Maturity Model, let's remember to cherish our non-artificial human intelligence interactions this holiday season. May your days be merry and bright, and your AI projects be just as delightful.
Where are you on the journey to Talent Champion?
Happy Holidays, and here's to more face-to-face conversations and fewer virtual calls in the coming year!
Warm wishes,
