Artificial Intelligence Technology in Employment

Artificial intelligence ( AI ) “is technology and a branch of computer science that studies and develops intelligent machines and software”. Major AI researchers and textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agent”. [1] There are many different uses for Artificial intelligence and the one that I have chosen to research and discuss is the use of Artificial intelligence and the workplace. With all of the advances being made year after year you have to wonder could artificial Intelligence at some point replace employees? How could this happen? Pretty easily actually, if you step back and look at your day to day job, it is very robotic, most of us perform the same tasks day in and day out and it is part of our routine. Who is to say that one day a robot couldn’t be put in that same role and do the same job more efficiently and effectively. Technology has, of course, often disrupted and even destroyed whole industries and employment sectors. In the U.S., the mechanization of agriculture vaporized millions of jobs and led workers to eventually move from farms to factories. Later, manufacturing automation and globalization caused the transition to a service economy. Workers repeatedly adapted by acquiring new skills and migrating to jobs in new industries—but these changes have not altered the fact that most jobs continue to be essentially routine.[2] We see many different opinions on this topic, some would argue that AI technologies have already started to be the norm, automated systems have taken over for the average worker. This technology can have both good and bad effects for employees. Yes we could potentially see less of a need for humans in certain business aspects. We already see wages being driven down because it has become more affordable to automate a job that was once done by someone in a factory or an office. So now not only are we seeing wages of those without college degrees diminish, we now have to worry about potentially being replaced by an automated system. Then on the other hand there have been industries that have been affected positively by Artificial Intelligence technologies. There are several industries that have pursued automation aggressively without reducing overall employment. In U.S. banking, for example, because the increased productivity resulting from automation has been accompanied by a relatively even higher demand for bank services, employment grew by 50 per cent between 1970 and 1980 (Ernest, 1982). [3]. Not all jobs have the capability of being automated roles like teacher and childcare provider that require a human to successfully do the job. The power of man and machine working in unison was at the heart of a speech about intelligence augmentation by Ari Gesher, engineering ambassador with Palantir Technologies, at the recent Economist Technology Frontiers 2013 conference in London. "The idea is to have a very well defined division of labor between the computing machines and the humans," he said, spelling out the complementary skills of men and computers. [4] In closing while AI technology could clearly be the way of the future and we will continue to see employment rates job as we have seen year over year as these systems become more sophisticated. While this transition may be a long while a way it is still something we need to be thinking about and preparing for. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence 2. http://cacm.acm.org/magazines/2013/7/165475-could-artificial-intelligence-create-an-unemployment-crisis/fulltext 3. http://ai.stanford.edu/~nilsson/OnlinePubs-Nils/General%20Essays/AIMag05-02-002.pdf 4. http://www.zdnet.com/artificial-intelligence-job-killer-or-your-next-boss-7000012404/

Knowledge Management Systems in Business

As we have read in Chapter 7 Knowledge Management Systems play an instrumental part in helping businesses increase their profits and or reduce their costs. Now more than ever businesses have access to so much data, probably more than they have ever had before. That being said are these companies analyzing their data properly and getting the most out of it to make them successful. These Knowledge Management Systems allow companies to complete more complicated tasks that before may have taken a lot of time. Three key reasons why actively managing knowledge is important to a company’s success are: 1.) Facilitates decision-making capabilities, 2.) Builds learning organizations by making learning routine, and, 3.) Stimulates cultural change and innovation. [1] While implementing a KMS is not without its challenges it is imperative for the success of the business to have a KMS in place in order to stay competitive. There are some big fortune 500 companies that have started using a KMS and overcame the challenges, a few examples of those companies are: World Bank/ Dow Jones and Shuffle Master. American companies will spend $73 billion on knowledge management software this year and spending on content, search, portal, and collaboration technologies is expected to increase 16% in 2008, according to a recently-released report from AMR Research. [2] Then there is a company like Siemens (Europe’s Knowledge Management Leader), who knew the value of a KMS from the very beginning. The advantages offered by knowledge management are obvious. Companies avoid performing the same tasks twice by making more effective use of the knowledge available to them in databases, archives and documents. That helps them cut costs and save time. One example of this tool is the cooperation of virtual teams such as those operating at Siemens Business Services (SBS). [3] One of the issues that came up amongst Siemens employees after implementing the KMS was, does this now replace the need for employees when on the contrary it actually has the opposite effect, having a KMS in place will actually help develop additional jobs. Who wouldn’t want to see additional job opportunity in an economy like this? There are many different types of knowledge to be considered when putting a system into place. When considering effective knowledge management, a variety of factors and needs must be assessed to find the most beneficial form for the knowledge. Knowledge management can exist in many forms. (see list on link below).[4] In closing having a Knowledge Management System in place gives your business a competitive edge against the competition, it presents opportunities for companies that may have never been there before. Knowledge management is about using the brain power of an organization in a systematic and organized manner in order to achieve efficiencies, ensure competitive advantage, and spur innovation.[5] While there may be some bumps in the road while trying to implement the rewards will outweigh any of the challenges that are faced. 1. http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2012/08/20/why-knowledge-management-is-important-to-the-success-of-your-company/ 2. http://www.baselinemag.com/c/a/IT-Management/Knowledge-Management-5-Big-Companies-That-Got-It-Right/ 3. http://www.siemens.com/innovation/en/publikationen/publications_pof/pof_spring_2004/knowledge_articles knowledge_management.htm 4. http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples/knowledge-management-examples.html 5. http://www.uky.edu/~gmswan3/575/Serban_and_Luan_2002.pdf

DSS in business - better decision making

In today’s business world we are constantly making decisions, who to hire, who to fire, what to spend and how to spend it. Managers are spending their time analyzing reports and trying to figure out ways to increase sales, assign quotas to their sales reps and put a strategy in place to hit those sales numbers. It is imperative that the correct decisions are made and in some cases they need to be made quickly, that is not always easy to do. Often times we are not fortunate enough to have the gift of time to put a strategy and plan together in order to get things done. Using a decision support system to analyze your business can help make this process a smoother one. Decision Support Systems - DSS - are a specific class of computer-based information systems that support your decision-making activities. A decision support system analyzes business data and provide interactive information support to managers and business professionals during the decision-making process, from problem recognition to implementing your decision. Decision Support Systems use (1) Analytical models, (2) specialized databases, (3) a decision maker’s own insights and judgments, and (4) an interactive, computer-based modeling process to support semi-structured business decisions [1] As an option for these companies there are decision support software systems available for businesses. The software available for decision support systems allow businesses and managers to work smarter and more efficiently. One example of this software is called Vanguard. The Vanguard System™ is a comprehensive business solution for improving the quality, reliability, and speed of management decisions. It does this by helping you collaborate with colleagues on important plans, analyze alternatives using state-of-the-art modeling and simulation techniques, automate routine decisions using expert system technology, and Improve overall management effectiveness by adding structure to a normally chaotic process. [2] Using a DSS software will improve your company’s overall business by now being able to take data that is already available but potentially not being utilized the way it could be. This software basically takes all of that data and turns it into valuable information that can now be used to make smarter decisions. The widespread use of computer technology has changed the way companies do business. Information technology has altered relationships between companies and their suppliers, customers and rivals. Porter and Millar (1985) discuss two specific ways that information technology can affect competition: by altering industry structures and by supporting cost and/or differentiation strategies. [3] In closing using decision support systems in business will improve decision making on all levels. Using this system is changing the way companies are doing business by having the ability to use old data and analyze it, It will give you a competitive advantage over other corporations all while saving the company money. 1. http://www.targit.com/en/landingpages/decisionsupportsystem/dss 2. http://www.vanguardsw.com/solutions/application/decision-support/ 3. http://www.b-eye-network.com/view/6501