“IT brings the tech, HR brings the people.” This was a memorable takeaway from last month’s Research Drop on HR & IT collaboration in driving successful AI transformation. In our most recent ‘Think like a People Scientist’ webinar, we dove deeper into this idea and explored how, and why, HR and IT teams should be working closely together when it comes to driving AI transformation.
In this webinar, Dr. Julie Morris, Program Manager in the People Science R&D team was joined by Dr. Megan Benzing, Senior People Scientist at Microsoft, and Craig Foster, Director of HR Digital Transformation at Microsoft.
To kick of the session, we asked the audience which team(s) are currently leading the AI strategy in their organizations. Not surprisingly, over 50% reported that it was their IT team but 35% also felt that HR was one team that should be involved from across the organization. Some of the reasons given for this more collaborative approach included people-centricity, enhancing adoption and promotion of AI, and change management integration.
Despite the general awareness that HR has a key role to play in AI transformation, our research uncovered some of the challenges that are facing HR when it comes to AI. During the webinar Dr. Megan talked about the lack of access to AI for HR teams and the impact that this can have on realized value, not only from HR employees but leaders too. You can read more about this research here.
To bring a real-world example to the audience, Craig Foster shared insights from Microsoft's own journey in building the Employee Self-Service agent and digital transformation. He discussed how HR and IT teams at Microsoft have worked together to create a seamless experience for employees, leveraging AI to enhance productivity and engagement. Here are some key learnings from Craig’s experience:
- Integration of HR and IT: Successful implementation of the Employee Self Service (ESS) tool requires close collaboration between HR and IT teams to ensure both technical and human-centric aspects are addressed.
- Employee Experience: Focusing on enhancing the employee experience is crucial. This involves creating seamless and intuitive self-service tools that empower employees and improve productivity.
- Data Security: Ensuring the security and privacy of employee data is a top priority. This involves implementing robust security measures and addressing employee concerns about data protection.
- Change Management: Effective change management strategies are essential to facilitate the adoption of new technologies and processes. This includes providing training and support to employees to help them adapt to the changes.
- Continuous Improvement: The ESS journey is ongoing, with continuous improvements and iterations based on employee feedback and evolving needs.
To further explore insights from this webinar and learn how to navigate AI transformation in your organization, we invite you to:
- Read our Research Drop: Investing in HR & IT Collaboration to Drive Successful AI Transformation
- Access the slides from the webinar below and share with your colleagues and AI leaders
- Join our next ‘Think like a People Scientist’ webinar on May 6 where we will discuss how you can lead AI change with employee sentiment
Thank you for being part of our ‘Think like a People Scientist’ series. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!
Microsoft