Crawl, Walk, Run: A Guide to Establishing a Successful AI Center of Excellence
Discover The Importance Of A Step-By-Step Approach When Implementing A CoE
Generative AI is the latest buzzword in the industry these days. While several aspects of this technology are new (such as hallucinations, IP infringement, amplified bias, etc.), rolling it out to your developers and end-users still means a change to the way they do their job. A proven organizational model to figure out the ins and outs of a new technology before it is scaled within an organization is setting up a Center of Excellence (CoE). Whether it is process automation, AI, or generative AI, this organization is the tip of the spear and the CoE mission remains timeless and relevant — as does the crawl, walk, and run journey of establishing one.
A few months ago, Chris Johannessen (Editor, The Journal of AI, Robotics & Workplace Automation) joined me on “What’s the BUZZ?” to share more about setting up a CoE in your organization. Here’s what we talked about…
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Why You Need A Center of Excellence (CoE)
It's intriguing how company size and industry vertical can influence automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) needs. Small companies might have one person as the central hub of knowledge and operations. However, as a company grows, so does the necessity for automation in different sectors. For example, finance, marketing, and call center operations may all incorporate automation in their procedures. That's where the concept of a CoE comes in — a team dedicated to promoting automation across the organization. However, the definition of automation differs for different people. Some might see it as simple as reporting automation, while others might think of AI, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), or AI service software platforms. Therefore, a clear understanding of what automation means for an organization is vital. Additionally, the integration of AI into these processes introduces another layer of complexity. Is it a part of the automation organization or the analytics organization? Since AI relies heavily on data science and statistical decision-making, it might fit in both categories.
Education and Awareness: The Role of a CoE
The first and crucial step for a CoE is educating the organization about automation and AI. In the past, a one-size-fits-all approach was applied, but now, recognizing different personas within an organization is essential. Automation and AI can drive value differently for different roles and functions within the company, so understanding this is vital. This can start with simple methods like slideshows or company events to raise awareness. It's also beneficial to identify "champions" within the organization. Champions are individuals who are enthusiastic about the topic and can drive its implementation forward within their department.
» First and foremost, the [CoE’s] key role is gonna be educating the organization about just what automation and AI is in that particular context. «
— Chris Johannessen
Crawl, Walk, Run: The Path to Establishing a CoE
Bringing a CoE to life should follow the maxim of crawl, walk, run. Companies often start with a central model, evolving towards a hub and spoke, then a more decentralized structure. This gradual progress is essential for establishing a successful CoE. Maturity in this context should not be confused with complexity. The focus should be on making an impact and driving value within the organization rather than reaching a complicated end goal. Moreover, the role of a CoE might be part of someone's existing job. If this person is not enthusiastic about it, it could fizzle out due to overload. Therefore, the right personality in place is crucial.
» You don't have to worry about getting there. You just have to be worry about having an impact and driving value in your organization. «
— Chris Johannessen
The Journey from Inception to Impact
The implementation of automation, AI, and generative AI within an organization is influenced by various factors such as the size of the company and the industry it operates in. As a company grows, the need for automation increases, leading to the establishment of a CoE. The CoE is tasked with educating the organization about automation and AI, recognizing different personas within the organization, and identifying the champions who can drive the implementation. However, bringing a CoE to life should follow the principle of crawl, walk, run, focusing on making an impact and driving value rather than achieving complexity. The right personality in the CoE role is crucial for success.
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What’s next?
Appearances
July 10 - Monday Morning Data Chat with Joe Reis & Matt Housley on whether your business should chase generative AI.
Join us for the upcoming episodes of “What’s the BUZZ?”
June 20 - Aurélie Pols, Data Privacy Expert & Advisor, will join as we discuss how leaders can shape their business’ accountability for generative AI.
July 6 - Abi Aryan, Machine Learning Engineer & LLMOps Expert, will share how you can fine-tune and operate large language models in practice.
August 1 - Scott Taylor, aka “The Data Whisperer”, will let us in on how effective storytelling help you get AI project funded.
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Together, let’s turn hype into outcome. 👍🏻
—Andreas