These days, it seems like all the products on the market advertise their capabilities as “artificial intelligence” (AI), and the newspapers keep claiming that robotic automation in the workplace is on the rise. With so many options newly available, it can quickly become confusing and overwhelming to choose the right technological path forward – and yet, you know that making the right choice matters more than ever before. Your ongoing agility will determine your survival in this disruptive business environment. That’s why, today, ISG is starting a short series to help you make the right decision about how you should plan to allocate your company’s IT spend in 2018. If you’ve wondered whether you should focus your investment on increasing workplace automation through robots and AI, or if it’s a better idea to hire skilled IT technicians to make your organization more efficient, you’ll get the answers you need here. Note: In this series, we interchangeably use the terms “machine,” “computer,” “AI” and “robot.” For our purposes right now, please note that they all refer to the same thing: the advanced technology your business can use. What Is AI? AI, or artificial intelligence, is the building block required for effective robot workers and our modern tech marvels. But what is it and why does it matter? And are all those products out there that claim to be AI really AI? Let’s start our discussion of where you should allocate your IT funds by defining the exact tools you’d actually be […]

According to an article from The Wall Street Journal, it takes six months to a year for a new hire to get up to speed in their new job, and hiring the wrong person can “wreck a tight budget.” Since employees are your company’s biggest asset—and biggest expense—it benefits you to take the time you need to find the perfect candidate. However… With the quicksilver pace of modern business, you may fall behind if you wait too long to develop your new app, create the hottest and most useful technological integration or otherwise capture the lion’s share of today’s tech-driven consumers. If you’re taking the time to hire right, how can you stay ahead of your competition? How Top Leaders Achieve Agile Innovation – At Their Pace Savvy business leaders stay on the cutting edge by finding creative solutions to their toughest problems. If you need a new app or IoT (Internet of Things) integration, you can follow the experts’ path: • Decide what you want your innovation to do • Outsource the work to specialist temps • Get the work done in record time Typically, there are three ways you can accomplish this. By following these methods in order, you’ll have mastered the secret to lightning-fast business innovation. 1. Hire a Consultant There’s nothing new about calling in consultants to solve thorny problems, but business leaders often overlook the many skilled technology consultants who are available to work on a short-term basis to meet specific goals. Whether you need […]

Due to the pace of technological change, many people across a variety of industries continue to wonder about what skills will be needed in the future, which tech tools we’ll be using or how the addition of machines in the workplace will change the employment landscape down the road. With such unpredictability, is there a way to “future proof” the hiring process to inject more solid answers? Yes. Obviously we’ll always continue to monitor such developments for the rate of change, but here’s what we do know in the interim: Good IT talent will represent critical hires, because only they can train and manage the workplace machines of the future. Let’s talk about the best ways to find and hire technology professionals who can help with your transition to automation, now and in the years to come. Why It’s Important to Hire the Right Technology Professionals Technology isn’t simply an operational business tool these days. It’s a strategic tool. Companies that meet their customers’ expectations for a personalized, responsive experience will be best suited to pull ahead in the new economy — but to do that, you’ll need the right IT tools and staff. With well-chosen tech hires, your staff and board will be able to better meet strategic goals by overcoming current tech obstacles with creative solutions and your customers will benefit from a better experience with your company, powered by technology. Unfortunately, techies are especially hard to hire. Often focused on skills, these computer wizards can either be […]

Emotional intelligence is the ability for individuals to recognize their own and other people’s emotions, to distinguish and understand feelings, to use emotion to guide thinking and to manage those emotions to adapt to an environment or situation. A term coined by psychologists, emotional intelligence (EI) has gained traction in the field of recruitment, and the reason is simple. EI encompasses social skill, motivation and empathy, as well as self-awareness and self-regulation. People who possess these qualities work well with others tend to be natural leaders. Beyond just skills, experience and “book smarts,” many savvy recruiters are factoring EI into their hiring processes. While this can take some extra thought up front, the payout is in an employee who not only grows with the company, but also helps take it to the next level. It can be tempting to take shortcuts, but standard personality tests are not an accurate gauge of EI. Instead, take these things into consideration.   Start with the job description First, when establishing a job posting, don’t just focus on the qualifications and responsibilities of the role. Consider the primary behaviors that would make someone successful in that position. Discuss with the client, consider the qualities they will need in an employee and what type of employee will fit the company’s culture.   Interview with EI in mind This may sound obvious, but most of the time, it doesn’t happen. Often, recruiters and hiring managers accept vague answers without asking strong follow-up questions. Instead, ask questions […]