Tech

Using Technology to Make Work More Human – HBR.org Daily

The next wave of digital tech, or “smart tech,” has the potential and power to help us rehumanize work. Rather than doing the same work faster and with fewer people, smart tech creates an opportunity to redesign jobs and reengineer workflows to enable people to focus on the parts of work that humans are particularly well-suited for, such as relationship building, intuitive decision making, empathy, and problem solving. But it will require organizational leaders to make informed, careful, strategic decisions to ensure the technology is used to enhance our humanity and enable people to do the kinds of relational, empathetic, problem-solving activities we do best. This article offers some initial steps to get started introducing smart tech within your own organization.
The Great Resignation wasn’t created by the pandemic so much as supersized by it. The unwillingness of workers to rush back into cubicles, behind counters, onto assembly lines, and behind the wheel is a direct result of work cultures that too often default to suspicion, inflexible schedules, and unrealistic workloads. The virtual and flexible work arrangements necessitated by the pandemic were revelatory for many people, but didn’t free them from the 24/7 onslaught of tasks, back-to-back meetings, and emails created by always-on cultures and technologies. But the next wave of digital tech — what we call “smart tech” — has the potential and power to be different and to reverse these trends. Instead of dehumanizing us, smart tech can actually help rehumanize work.
In our book The Smart Nonprofit, we define “smart tech” as the AI and other advanced digital technologies that automate work by taking over tasks that only people could do previously. Smart tech makes decisions instead of and for people. While some feel that the interests of workers are at odds with smart tech — that humans and machines are in direct competition — we believe that this is a false dichotomy that’s uninformed, unimaginative, and just plain wrong. Smart tech and humans are not competing with one another; they are complimentary, but only when the tech is used well.
There will be parts of jobs that are suitable for automation, but few, if any, that can (or should!) be completely replaced by smart tech. What automation can change for the better is the experience of work. Rather than doing the same work faster and with fewer people, smart tech creates an opportunity to redesign jobs and reengineer workflows to enable people to focus on the parts of work that humans are particularly well-suited for, such as relationship building, intuitive decision making, empathy, and problem solving.
Companies will be making many choices about automation in the next few years. And those decisions will influence how employees, customers, and other stakeholders perceive your company going forward. For instance, will your company choose to institute:
Or
Organizational leaders are going to face many choices when it comes to smart tech in the near future. Commercial applications using smart tech are available off-the-shelf for every department from communications to accounting to service delivery. It will require informed, careful, strategic thought to ensure the technology is used to enhance our humanity and enable people to do the kinds of relational, empathetic, problem-solving activities we do best.
Consider the case of The Trevor Project, an organization that provides crisis counseling to young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) people. The Trevor Project is an example of what we call a “Smart Nonprofit” — an organization that has stepped carefully and wisely into automation by understanding “cobotting,” the combination of people and smart tech that brings out the best in both. They created Riley, a chatbot that helps train counselors by providing real-life simulations of conversations with potentially suicidal teens. Riley expands the training capacity of the organization enormously by always being available for a training session with volunteers. But the Trevor Project also knows that staying human-centered and ensuring that teens are always talking directly to another human being is critical to fulfilling its mission. Riley isn’t subtracting from the human experience; it’s adding to it.
Cobotting goes beyond working with chatbots. For example, Benefits Data Trust (BDT), a Philadelphia-based organization focused on poverty reduction, integrated smart tech into their application process. Call-in center staff assist clients in navigating and completing applications for public benefits. The computer system was trained on thousands of interactions between call-in staff and clients to make recommendations among dozens of possible public benefits. The system also pre-populated forms for clients, saving staff an enormous amount of time. The pain point they were addressing was the enormous amount of time and documentation it takes for clients to apply for and receive public benefits. As BDT’s chief data and technology officer Ravindar Gujral told us, “At the end of the day, our role…is to create a human connection.”
Cobotting can also address another workplace stressor: inclusion. For example, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation uses automation to streamline the administration of patient encounters, where scheduling, diagnosis, medication orders, and patient care take place. For example, if a doctor orders a colonoscopy for a patient during an examination, the prescription for the prep medications is automatically sent to the prison pharmacy staff, and the 48-hour liquid diet instructions are automatically sent to food service staff. This is just one of the many patient encounters that can be tracked across all correctional facilities in the system. In addition to this type of automation, visually impaired employees can “hear” information on the screen via speech reading interfaces and use voice-to-text tools to input information on the screen.
Cobotting takes time and careful implementation to do well. However, the benefits to reducing staff overload are enormous. An October 2021 survey by Salesforce of 773 automation users in the United States found that 89% are more satisfied with their job and 76% say they are more satisfied with their stress levels at work as result of using automation.
So how do you get started introducing smart tech within your own organization? Here are a few initial steps you can take:
Smart tech and automation can make work and workplaces more fulfilling and less exhausting. But doing so requires leaders to dig into the implications of automation and make smart, ethical choices about using tech that enhances our humanity and makes work better, healthier, and happier for everyone.

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Tech

NFL Week 17: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots Injury Report

Questionable = Uncertain as to whether the player will play
The New England Patriots (8-8) and the Buffalo Bills (12-3) announce the following player injuries and practice participation.

The New England Patriots (7-7) and the Cincinnati Bengals (10-4) announce the following player injuries and practice participation.

The New England Patriots (7-6) and the Las Vegas Raiders (5-8) announce the following player injuries and practice participation.

The New England Patriots (6-6) and the Arizona Cardinals (4-8) announce the following player injuries and practice participation.

The New England Patriots (6-5) and the Buffalo Bills (8-3) announce the following player injuries and practice participation.

The New England Patriots (6-4) and the Minnesota Vikings (8-2) announce the following player injuries and practice participation.

The New England Patriots (5-4) and the New York Jets (6-3) announce the following player injuries and practice participation.

The New England Patriots (4-4) and the Indianapolis Colts (3-4-1) announce the following player injuries and practice participation.

The New England Patriots (3-4) and the New York Jets (5-2) announce the following player injuries and practice participation.

The New England Patriots (3-3) and the Chicago Bears (2-4) announce the following player injuries and practice participation.

The New England Patriots (2-3) and the Cleveland Browns (2-3) announce the following player injuries and practice participation.

Tamara Brown and Evan Lazar Recap the first day of practice from the East West Shrine Bowl from the UNLV Fertitta Football Complex.

Patriots Director of Player Personnel Matt Groh addresses the media after day 1 of the East West Shrine Bowl.
NFL prospects on the Shrine Bowl West team react to being coached by the Patriots.

Check in with the Patriots new Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Bill O’Brien as he discusses his decision to return to New England.

The New England Patriots Foundation and Cole Strange returned to Young Woods Elementary to show support for the Providence school who promised to improve their attendance at the start of the 2022 school year. The students’ perfect attendance efforts were rewarded with a visit from Pat Patriot, New England cheerleaders and first round draft pick Cole Strange.

In this segment of “NFL Films Presents,” Charissa Thompson sits down with recently retired New England Patriots coaches Dante Scarnecchia and Ivan Fears.

With the conclusion of their 2022 season, the Patriots 2023 slate of opponents has been set.
The Patriots will pick 14th overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Entry Draft.

Ever get confused about the new stat in an article you read? Here’s an explanation of what the metrics mean.
New construction beginning in 2022 will create the largest video board for an outdoor stadium, new hospitality and function spaces and a completely reimagined north entrance to the stadium by 2023.

Tech

Rodent issues at Sunrise senior living facility leads state to close

The Florida Department of Health has ordered a senior living facility in Broward County to shut its kitchen and alleviate a “serious rodent issue” after Local 10 news brought the problem to the state’s attention.
Local 10 News learned the infestation has been going on for six weeks at Pacifica Senior Living located at 4201 Springtree Drive in Sunrise.

Residents, who are served three meals a day there, told Local 10 News they were unaware of the issue.
State inspectors ordered the kitchen at the facility shut Tuesday night and were told they needed to find an alternative, safe way to serve meals until the rodents are gone and the kitchen is re-inspected.

Video sent to Local 10 News shows a large rat with a slice of bread heading up a pole while another rodent could be seen with its head sticking out of an air conditioning vent.

The video was sent anonymously to Local 10 News with the message, “Jeff, please do something, they serve meals to the elderly here.”

Within hours of receiving notice from Local 10 News, the Department of Health suspended the facility’s sanitation certificate, meaning Pacifica cannot engage in food service and must find an “alternative process to serve safe meals.”
Local 10 News’ Jeff Weinsier went to Pacifica Senior Living, parked in the back of the building and watched.

A pest removal company was already there.
Within minutes, a chef exited the building with a rat stuck to a glue trap.

Shortly after that, the chef threw a box into the dumpster. When we looked to see what it was, it was a box of single-serve Corn Flakes with the container tops gnawed open.

Pacifica has been keeping its residents in the dark about the rodent problem while keeping the kitchen open.
Weinsier spoke with several residents who said they had no idea there was an issue.

Bridget Parks is the administrator at Pacifica. She is seen in video taken by Local 10 News talking with an exterminator and a kitchen employee on the day Weinsier saw several rodents being removed.

“Our corporate office has a statement for you,” was all Parks said, refusing to talk and instead handing over a statement that read: “We have been diligently working with a highly reputable pest control company for more than six weeks. Today (Monday), we have requested that they provide the maximum support necessary to put this issue behind us.”

As of Wednesday morning, residents still had not been told about the issue.
Local 10 News did look over past inspections at Pacifica, and while they did receive an unsatisfactory in May and June of last year, the violations didn’t involve rodent issues.

The Department of Health will be re-inspecting the facility before the kitchen is allowed to re-open.
Pacifica is licensed for 200 residents.

Local 10 News is not privy as to what Pacifica is doing to feed its residents or where they are getting the food.
Copyright 2023 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.

Jeff Weinsier joined Local 10 News in September 1994. He is currently an investigative reporter for Local 10. He is also responsible for the very popular Dirty Dining segments.

Tech

ROSS & BARUZZINI APPOINTS TIM KUPA TO LEAD NEW SMART BUILDING TECHNOLOGY DIVISION – PR Newswire

Ross & Baruzzini enters $80 billion smart building service sector with new market vice president

ST. LOUIS, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Tim Kupa has been appointed to lead Ross & Baruzzini’s new smart building technology division. Ross & Baruzzini is a leading technology consulting and engineering firm in North America.

“Tim and the new smart building team are leading Ross & Baruzzini closer to our goal of providing fully integrated technology, consulting, planning, and engineering services to both new buildings and existing infrastructure,” says Bill Overturf, CEO of Ross & Baruzzini. “We are prepared to lead the smart buildings industry with an innovative approach to smart tech implementation.”

The smart building service sector, currently valued at $80.62 billion, is expected to grow to $328.62 billion by 2029. Smart buildings are designed, developed, and operated with people in mind, using the power of data to fuel custom-fit technology solutions. As the world becomes increasingly digital, Ross & Baruzzini recognizes the potential of this emerging space.

“Smart building is a universal methodology that applies across all sectors,” says Kupa. “Any building, campus, or city can be smart and provide better experiences and improved efficiencies. What will set Ross & Baruzzini apart as a key player in this sector is our holistic approach: consulting our clients to understand occupants’ needs and the way their unique data fabric can be harnessed to create customized smart solutions.”

Formerly the director of information technology and operational technology cybersecurity at Siemens, Kupa brings over 20 years of experience in building technologies and data optimization to the role. He is excited for the opportunity to partner with organizations by collaborating with stakeholders at every level, addressing their diverse needs, and implementing smart building solutions.

Ross & Baruzzini is committed to finding smart solutions that maximize building design through intelligent integrations and resilience-focused consulting. As the single-source engineering partner for buildings’ living systems, Ross & Baruzzini helps clients use their data to create better occupant experiences, increase management capabilities, improve operational efficacy, and implement energy efficiency.

About Ross & Baruzzini
Ross & Baruzzini delivers integrated technology, consulting, and engineering solutions for safe, sustainable, and resilient facilities. Working across various industries, its team brings specialized expertise in medical equipment planning; network and communications; physical security; digital transformation; cybersecurity; and mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering. Discover where innovation is made personal at rossbar.com.