Quality and Innovation

Here’s my 2024 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor.studio:

2024 proved what quality management pioneers knew decades ago: Great AI depends on good data, good data depends on solid processes, and solid processes depend on PEOPLE collaborating in healthy ways.

As organizations rushed to implement AI, the ones that demonstrated early success have focused first on understanding human dynamics. 

2025 will be about RESULTS – and while AI agents will eventually become “just part of the team” – for the foreseeable future PEOPLE making the decisions about how and when to use AI’s results. That means your TEAMS need to be functioning – with as little personal and interpersonal “baggage” as possible.

That’s why we spent 2024 piloting Team-X.AI for over 500 people at 15+ companies – it’s AIaaS (AI as a Service) that helps teams overcome personal and interpersonal challenges to level up performance. The best part is: it doesn’t require anyone to disclose specific weaknesses, fears, or pain points. Our early adopters have used the results to answer burning “people side” questions like “How should we curate our Return to Office policies to balance company needs and individual flexibility needs?” and “What do we need to know about each other to ensure effective GenAI adoption?” (DM and I’ll put you in contact with our customer team.)

In addition, this year I advised 8 new CXOs about how to make informed technical decisions – including how to plan, scope, and design quality into data and AI intensive projects. Through 9 keynotes, I shared how quality management enables successful AI implementation. My collaborators and I also:

• Published our model for GenAI adoption in Harvard Business Review (Link: https://hbr.org/2024/12/how-to-create-value-systematically-with-gen-ai?ab=HP-hero-latest-text-1&giftToken=19365702901733499421436)

• Advanced frameworks for responsible AI implementation by applying Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge to modern data in “Data, Strategy, Culture & Power” — exploring how relationships, office dynamics, and personal motivations shape data integrity throughout its lifecycle – check it out on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4gF0GpQ or eBook at https://www.dxquality.com/offers/9ADWCLCy/checkout (Audiobook & short course coming in January!)

• Shared a vision for how AI will change the way we define quality at an International Academy of Quality (IAQ) meeting at the Japanese Union of Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

• Continued Qzuku with multiple fractional leadership engagements in tech & automotive

Three insights that particularly resonated:

1. “Data, analytics & AI can be objective tools, or personal and political weapons!” On why data initiatives require understanding power dynamics and motivated reasoning.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7201405507679453184/

2. “Who would ever think I would enjoy a book about data?” On making complex concepts accessible and engaging by focusing on human factors.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7217268690721927169/

3. “The insights from Connected, Intelligent, Automated are even MORE relevant today” On applying timeless quality principles to emerging technologies.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7250185386595872769/

The pattern is clear: Organizations achieve extraordinary results when they prioritize quality management principles and healthy human skills over short-term technical wins.

Looking ahead to 2025: Booking keynotes, workshops, and engagements focused on helping organizations implement AI responsibly through quality management frameworks. Whether you’re dealing with data quality, AI implementation, or organizational transformation – success starts by understanding the human system.

Remember: Speed is seductive, but sustainable success comes from building trust, transparency, and quality into every process. Let’s create systems that serve human needs while maintaining the highest standards of excellence.

Note: The ASQ lecture video mentioned in post #3 is now available at quality.org/videos [if you’re a member]

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Get your 2024 LinkedIn Rewind at https://coauthor.studio/rewind