Citation
Bajer, J. (2019), "Editorial", Strategic HR Review, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 41-41. https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-04-2019-160
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited
Is HR missing the boat with AI? I think so…
Applying new technology on top of old ways of thinking will not make a bit of difference. Using analytics to go deeper into the same old territories will only add to the pile of work we already have and drain our budgets. Using AI to show that we are “digital” is only wasting an amazing opportunity, so my challenge is that we leverage this new wave of technology evolution to truly transform the way in which we make decisions about our workforces.
There are plenty of examples where we are missing the point already. For example, using “clever” data to categorise what employees say they want to feel more motivated, will only reinforce old paradigms, which are based on two fundamental flaws:
People know what motivates them (so we can just ask them).
People are motivated by what they get (so let us figure it out, as in the previous point).
As Apple will tell you, adding more power to Walkman was not the next step in evolution. Yes, new technology can make a difference, but only when we use it to transform the way we understand the problem. And the problem we have today is one about connecting people with a true sense of purpose, so they can find the type of motivation that is contagious, sustainable and, interestingly enough, quite inexpensive.
The stories recorded in this issue are pioneering the use of AI inside HR, struggling with these sorts of issues. May they provoke you with new ideas, so you can help HR not miss the AI boat.
Dr Javier Bajer
Editor-in-Chief
Strategic HR Review
Javier@javierbajer.com