I recently listened to another HBR Ideacast interview (link below) with Professor Tsedal Neeley, the founding Chair of the HBS AI Academy. Based on her research, AI is an opportunity for leaders to rethink how work gets done across their organizations. As Professor Neeley says, "You need to innovate in your processes. You cannot cut and paste your old processes onto the new platform… or the new strategy that’s AI-driven.” Why process change is required AI changes inputs and o

If you're in a leadership role today, you're probably investing in AI initiatives. But here's the uncomfortable truth: most won't deliver the value you expect. I recently listened to an excellent HBR podcast discussing why so many transformations fall short. The conversation emphasized something I've seen repeatedly: the problem isn't the technology—it's how organizations think about deploying it. The Real Issue: Siloed Thinking Don't get caught up in siloed or linear thinkin

Are you planning to automate your business processes this year? Unfortunately, automation and AI aren’t magic bullets; they’re tools that amplify what your people and processes already do. Good preparation will help you ensure a smooth implementation and avoid costly delays. Before you select tools or start development, focus on these foundational steps: Start with clear outcomes, not technology: pick 1–2 measurable business goals (e.g. cycle time, customer satisfaction, cost

Does your job involve managing a business process? It can be challenging to get your arms around an unfamiliar process, especially if you’re also taking on a new role. However, your life will be much easier if you fully understand the process and how well it’s working. Here are some steps to help you get started: Identify key stakeholders – who are the customers of the process (internal or external)? Who is involved in each step of the process? Are others involved with provid

People often complain about processes and systems at work, but how do you know if there’s a serious problem? It’s easy to blame corporate policies, other teams, or a particular tool that your company uses, rather than considering the bigger picture. However, consistent issues are usually a product of a poorly designed or broken process. Here are some common signs of a business process that just isn’t working: Deliverables are consistently backlogged in one functional area, ev

One of the major benefits of process mapping is clarifying team member roles and responsibilities. Lack of clarity on roles is a common source of organizational dysfunction, as it creates a vicious cycle of poor communication, frustration, and resentment across teams. As Patrick Lencioni notes in his excellent book The Advantage, “Without clarity around… division of labor, the potential for politics and infighting… is great.” When responsibilities are clearly defined and unde

We often hear the term “constraint” or “bottleneck” applied to a process, but what does it mean? The constraint is the process step or resource that limits the capacity of the process. In other words, it’s the weakest link – even if the rest of the process can move faster, the constraint will determine the rate of completion. Eli Goldratt memorably illustrated this issue with the story of “Herbie” slowing down a Boy Scout hike in his bestselling business novel, The Goal. Cons