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Deloitte’s Strategy to Unleashing Power of Human-Machine Collaboration in Business

Published

4 years ago

April 17, 2020

Eric

AI Leader at Deloitte Analytics, Wessel Oosthuizen, has disclosed that while much of the public discourse surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) focuses on dire predictions about robots stealing jobs, a growing number of future-minded business leaders are embracing an altogether more optimistic and empowering narrative.

Oosthuizen made this known in a press release published by Deloitte – a leading global provider of audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax and related services – titled: “How Businesses Can Unleash The Power Of Human-Machine Collaboration” on Friday.

According to him, ‘visionary leaders realise our future is not about people versus machines at all, but about how human collaboration and decision-making can be enhanced through the use of machines and AI’.

He further made reference to research by Gartner, which predicted that AI, far from “stealing” jobs, would be a net creator of jobs by 2020 and that human-machine collaboration would be at the centre of this trend.

Here him: “At Deloitte we’ve coined a term for this – the ‘Age of With’. Far from being a futurist’s fantasy, says Oosthuizen, the Age of With is already firmly entrenched in workplaces in the form of shared data, social engagement, digital assistants, cloud platforms, connected devices. “What they have in common is human collaboration made greater with the machines we invent.”

He added that even leaders who understand the potential of ‘With’ in the context of human-machine cooperation often struggle to identify the specific technologies relevant to their organisations and come up with strategies to implement them.

He continues: “It’s clear from our research on Analytics and AI-driven enterprises that organisations want to lead with advanced analytics, and the adoption of technology like machine learning. However, this willingness is not always matched with the ability to turn insights into action. Data science has to permeate company culture starting from the top to see true benefits.”

In Oosthuizen’s opinion, the project is about building an insights-driven organisation (IDO), stressing that as companies continue to incorporate data in their operations, they must make analytics a priority for all employees to exceed business goals.

Consequently, to create an IDO, he opined that leaders should integrate culture, technology and talent as itemised below to gain a competitive advantage:

Culture: Companies should instil responsibility for analytics across the organisation, regardless of job title or level, and enlist an executive sponsor, ideally the CEO, to spur change in mindset across management. In addition, to motivate employees to incorporate insights into everyday tasks, consider tying individual performance goals to meaningful use of analytics. This can be also be reinforced by executives who encourage trying and risk-taking—even if failure occurs—and reward a “fail forward” mindset within the domain.

Technology: Expand tools to help incorporate both structured and unstructured data, deliver more insights faster and implement a single data and analytics solution that can be used across the organisation is imperative in the fast changing world of technology. Exponential technology is changing rapidly and staying at the forefront of the latest advancements and changes can be daunting but the advancements has also enabled companies to take a modular approach and get access to technology that was previously only within reach of organisations with large technology/IT budgets.

Talent: Eliminate the idea that only highly skilled mathematicians or data scientists are the only ones responsible for business analytics. Spread accountability broadly and train all employees about the role of analytics in their respective jobs. In companies where all personnel have been educated about how to leverage data, 88 percent exceeded business goals, compared to just 61 percent of those with few trained employees.

“All signs indicate that large organisations need to focus on using data more effectively to continue to grow and be positioned for success. However, most are hindered by their culture. Business leaders who deploy the responsibility of analytics more broadly and invest in an insight-driven culture will be poised to outperform their counterparts as well as be better prepared for the Age of With,” says Oosthuizen.

To help clients with this process, Deloitte created its aiStudio, an incubator for the development of state-of-the-art solutions in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Founded in 2018, the aiStudio unites top talent from around the globe, including South Africa, on a mission to solve today’s business challenges through clever application of AI technologies.

“It was carefully designed to capitalise on Deloitte’s strengths – and to combine them with the bold vision and scrappy tenacity of a start-up. Innovation thrives in this international, collaborative and agile environment,” says Oosthuizen.

Deloitte Africa has its own hub, The Deloitte Cognitive Advantage team, a team that is not only part but a founding member of this Global incubator. The team has seen exponential growth over the last 12 months and is dedicated to helping clients harness the power of “With”.

“In the Age of With, harnessing the power of AI in fields as diverse as financial services, retail, mining, healthcare, governments and others can create synergies and improved workforces which can add immense value to business. Artificial Intelligence is here, and it’s ready to get to work.”

News

N80.2b Fraud: EFCC Declares Ex- Gov Bello Wanted

Published

5 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted. Yahaya Bello was declared wanted for offences bordering on economic and financial crimes, with special emphasis to an alleged N82.2 billion fraud.

This was contained in a press statement made available to news men on Thursday.

The statement signed by Commission’s management reads as follows:

“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCCfor offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station.”

News

EFCC Seeks Military’s Help to Arrest Fleeing Ex-Gov Bello

Published

7 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned to April 23, the suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello.

The adjournment is for substituted service and possible arraignment of Bello for alleged N84billion money laundering.

At the sitting, counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Phinro, told the court that Bello was absent from court for his arraignment because he was being protected by someone with immunity.

Phinro complained that the former governor was whisked out of his Abuja residence by the same person with immunity.

Phinro said the anti-graft agency might seek the help of the military to fish him out to come face his arraignment.

Responding to this submission, Yahaya Bello through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad, told the court that there is an order of the court restraining the EFCC from arresting or arraigning him.

Muhammad said a Kogi State High Court had on February 9, 2024 restrained the EFCC from arresting or arraigning the former governor.

He added that the EFCC has appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal was yet to decide on the matter.

He pointed out that the action of the EFCC was unconstitutional and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain any charge from the EFCC.

Counsel for the EFCC, however, disagreed with the submission of the counsel to Bello.

The EFCC counsel held that the ruling in the substantive matter on the suit was delivered on March 17, 2024 by the Kogi State High Court.

He cleared the air that the court in its ruling held that for the former governor to be arrested or arraigned, the EFCC must first seek leave from the court to do so.

He said it was in line with that judgment that the EFCC, through an exparte application, filed for the order seeking the arrest of the former governor which was granted by the court.

Counsel for Yahaya Bello, however, insisted before the court that the order for the ex-governor’s arrest was made out of jurisdiction. He said the former governor is not a fugitive, but relying on the order of the Kogi State High Court to take protection.

On Wednesday, EFCC operatives stormed Bello’s residence in the Wuse area of Abuja and spent most part of the day attempting to arrest the former governor whom the Commission later confirmed was whisked away by his successor.

The EFCC subsequently warned members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

The Commission’s spokesperson said that Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

According to him, culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

“On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

“Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

“The Commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions,” the statement added.

News

Gunmen Invade Ekiti Secretariat, Days after Oyo Assembly Invasion

Published

2 days ago

April 16, 2024

Eric

Barely three days after armed Yoruba Nation agitators invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat, gunmen on Tuesday, stormed the Ilejemeje Local Government Area Secretariat in Ẹda-Oniyọ, Ekiti State, causing pandemonium among the workers.

The attackers disrupted normal activities and forced employees to flee the premises for safety.

The hoodlums, who were said to have come from the Obbo-Ayegunle community in the neighbouring Kwara State, violently stormed the secretariat, firing several gunshots, making workers run in different directions for dear lives, and in the ensuing pandemonium, one person was injured.

Reports said the hoodlums vandalized the Secretariat building and other property of the council.

Although the cause of the attack was still sketchy as at the time of filling this report, it was however gathered that the two communities have been embroiled in crisis for some time over land disputes.

During the attack, which lasted for several hours, one person was said to have sustained serious injury and rushed to the State Specialist Hospital in Iye-Ekiti.

The hoodlums reportedly heavily armed with dangerous weapons including gun, charms and cutlasses. They invaded the Secretariat at about 10:am.

Speaking on the attack, the Eleda of Eda Oniyo community, Oba Awodipo Awolola, explained that the hoodlums had in few days attacked some residents of the community, with charm in their farmlands, the development which the monarch said had resulted in panic and tension in the community.

The traditional ruler, who lamented the absence of police post in the area, said there is a need for security outfits to mobilise more officer to the community to prevent further breaking of law and orders.

Similarly, the Chairman of Ilejemaje Local Government, Mr. Alaba Dada, said the suspected hoodlums were from the Obbo-Ayegunle community in Kwara State.

He attributed the attacks to the lingering land disputes between the two communities, he explained that though security agents had been mobilised to the town to prevent repraisal attacks.

He said there is need for the Ekiti and Kwara State governments to meet, and settle the land dispute in the interest of peace and harmonious relationship.