Work redesign

What work redesign is

Every job has tedious, routine work. It takes time, gives the business the least return, and is usually the least satisfying part of the job. AI rarely replaces a whole job, but it can take on much of that routine work.

Work redesign has two steps. First, a close look at how a person or team actually works, to find where AI can help and where it can't, accounting for the technology, the business and the culture. Second, a specific design for what gets built.

What you get

At minimum, a detailed design and plan for what to build. Beyond that it depends on the scope. If it's simple, I build it and give it to you. Sometimes the answer is teaching people to use the tools in their own work. If it needs serious engineering, I work with your in-house team or bring in builders from my network.

How I work

• First, find out how far, and in what ways, the technology can help.
• Just because something can be automated doesn't mean it should be.
• Involve the people who know and do the work, openly.
• Deal with people's fears directly, so the change doesn't cause problems nobody planned for.
• Even when the goal is lower costs or growing without hiring, there's a right way to do it. It involves the people, including the ones who feel threatened.
• Make sure the gains reach the people doing the work, so they have a reason to use the new tools.
• Plan for the managers whose teams get more productive, so a win doesn't turn into a target for cuts.

What work redesign can do for you

For the business

• More output from the same team
• Better quality, with fewer errors and less rework
• Faster turnaround
• More consistent work from one person to the next
• Room to absorb crunches and spikes
• Growth without adding headcount
• Lower costs
• Better retention
• Know-how written into the process instead of kept in one person's head
• A clearer record for audits and compliance

For the people doing the work

• Less of the tedious, routine work
• Time for the work that kept getting pushed down the list
• Less burnout
• A share of the gains, so the new way of working pays off for them too

Who work redesign is for

Any company where groups of people do their work on computers.

Why work with me

I've spent my career running operations and doing process analysis, re-engineering, business transformation and automation, with my job on the line for the results. I've also managed a lot of people. Changing how people work takes the technical analysis and the conversations, and I've done both for years. My resume has the details.