POWER
Prod & Order Workers/ Employees for ‘Results’
is now Obsolete but
Power Still Promotes Progress and Profits
in AI age but on a New Premise
Passions Optimism Wisdom Enterprise Rewards
All throughout history, power has been a measure of influence or control over outcomes, events, actors and issues. However, the means of acquiring and using power have metamorphosed from muscle to money, to mind and to machines based on AI, due to cataclysmic changes in the environment.
And what’s coming could not have been conjured up by the wildest imagination. Historian and the author of Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari, warns, “AI could cause ‘catastrophic’ financial crisis”. His logic is based on historical facts. He recalls that the 2007-08 financial crisis was created because very few people understood the new debt instruments, ‘Collaterelised Debt Obligations’ (CDO). And now, AI is not only getting wider controls, but it can create newer financial instruments that may be beyond the grasp of even the experts. He welcomes the leading countries’ efforts to ‘regulate’ AI, but, if no one can grasp the dimensions of the instruments AI may create, what can the regulators do?
It's a race between technological forces and human ingenuity. That is why we are proposing a new premise for progress and profits, i.e. develop by widening, sharpening and intensifying Passions Optimism Wisdom Enterprise Rewards.
As stated in the sub-heading above, this is no time for hierarchical, - tall, flat or any other - old type of organizations, but a spirited, focused and united movement. Moreover, traditional ‘bosses’ should discard their ‘crowns’, move shoulder to shoulder with everyone and aim to pool all the ingenuities and flair to ‘profit’ from the newer creations of the AI. Yes, collectively we can harness the new miracles for higher prosperity.
The traditional state-business differences should cease and both, rather all sides, should collaborate and cooperate. These terms are used loosely but should now be the sine-qua-non.
The brighter side is that AI and allied technologies can raise everyone’s skills and capabilities, not those of the ‘bright souls’ in the R&D labs only. The products would be wonderfully simpler to use and operate, productivity would zoom and prices will fall, raising the standards of living all across the board.
The idea of closer, creative, collaborative and cooperative, non-hierarchical and non-hubristic teams appears ludicrous but here are two examples of companies putting them into practice long before AI was operative!
The brilliant, forward-looking, Brazilian businessman, Ricardo Semler, introduced a radical new concept - The Semco Way. His philosophy: Give employees complete freedom, as long as they finish their work on time. Semler carried out this idea to the extreme. Employees could interview and choose their bosses, set their own working hours and even determine their own salaries.
Equally, if not more dramatic, are the stories at 3M, in particular, the story of 'paid free time' for all employees to imagine, experiment and help create new products, even if this was not in an employee’s job description. 3M has 5500 fast-selling products. Many, including the famous post-it notes, were the result of free time initiatives of employees. 3M is a $32 billion company and has 22,000 patents, many of them secured by the free timers. The world-famous thinker and management expert, Robert Brands, has explained the free time concept in his book, "Robert's 10 Rules of Innovation". His message is straight from the shoulder, "Innovate or Die”.
What are the qualities that should be developed by everyone to put in place such teams?
It’s nothing very dramatic or novel, but the most ignored concept of ‘philosophical dreaming’. A Google snippet brings it in focus - authenticity, constant learning, clarity, courage, decisiveness, empathy, thoughtfulness and above all humility.Astonished to see humility in the list? It is, in fact, the most desired quality in cataclysmic times.
A sage says, “Humility is not a sign of weakness, but rather a strength that propels personal and professional growth. By embracing humility, we foster self-awareness, value diverse perspectives and build an authentic connection. It also means being willing to admit your mistakes and learn from them. Humility is a trait that can make you a better leader. When you're humble, you are more likely to accept feedback and new ideas from others. Plus, you become more relatable, which can build better relationships”
“Power is dangerous unless you have humility,” says Richard Daley.
Wizards of the World!
Ignite and Inspire Minds to Create New
Wonders Of World
Through
Besides Harari Geoffrey Hinton considered as the God father of AI also sounds alarm bells ; he told press :"Yes, AI might cure diseases, mitigate climate change and improve life on earth in other ways we can’t yet envision—if we can control it. If we can’t? Hinton fears the worst: machines taking the reins from humanity. “I don’t think there’s any chance of us maintaining control if they want control,” says (torontolife.com)Hinton. “It will be hopeless.”
ReplyDeleteThe 3 M case of "paid free time" is very interesting but company must be providing free use of facilities, supplies also; it needs to be explained all 'HOWs' of the total system from idea to product to market.
ReplyDeleteRicardo Semler's company's style is novel and apt for new age but its working details should have been explained for deriving benefits.
ReplyDeleteAll the details are beyond the scope of a blog. There are proliferative writings about him and by him; the most popular is "The Maverick" , available on line and hard copies.
ReplyDeleteThe details are also available on www.semcostyle.com
ReplyDelete"Non hierarchial and non-hubristic " teams. are dreams!!Pl tell how to reaalise.
ReplyDeleteYou will appreciate the specific approach will differ from team to team. However some very insightful guidelines can be found in one of the best books on team spirit: "Trillion Dollar Coach". Google founders are on record saying "but for Bill Campbell's coaching Google would not have been what it is".
ReplyDelete"Employees could interview and choose their bosses, set their own working hours and even determine their own salaries". Semler set a world record of upholding human dignity !
ReplyDelete