Barriers to Adoption and Organizational Readiness
Technological Challenges
Effective AI implementation in project management means proper infrastructure and quality data. Low quality data can increase errors and incorrect results. Implementing a data governance strategy can aid in proper utilization of data and ensuring high quality. Improper infrastructure can reduce the efficiency of artificial intelligence, leading to slower computing times and frustration using it. Using AI cloud vendors, or investing into private infrastructure, can help alleviate this issue.
Financial Concerns
For AI to be effective, it requires proper infrastructure, high quality data, and trained employees. All of these factors are expensive, with prices increasing recently. The budget in a project should include the costs of implementing and training around AI if that is the intended use.
Knowledge & Skill Gaps
There is an increasing gap in the knowledge around what is and how to use AI. This gap in knowledge and skill can lead to an increase in errors, resistance, and decreased performance. Implementing a training program designed around AI literacy would increase knowledge and decrease the skill gap.
Culture
Cultural resistance to AI can come from the lack of knowledge around its purpose and how to use it. This resistance comes from confusion, uncertainty, and job displacement fears. A lack of leadership buy-in can increase resistance as well, or employees will lose trust. Increasing AI literacy and knowledge can also reduce resistance. Pitching AI as an assistant, and not a replacement, will reduce resistance and increase adoption. Leadership support throughout implementation can increase adoption rates as well.
Impact on Project Management
These barriers can make it difficult to implement AI into project management. There are many ways to ensure proper implementation. Leadership should “buy-in” to AI usage, as this can reduce cultural resistance and increase adoption rates. The infrastructure to produce a high-quality AI can have a price tag attached, project managers should keep that in mind when preparing a budget. Project managers should be part of the integration team, ensuring the organization is ready and barriers are reduced.
Brandon Witham