How well are CIOs listening to employees about the potential for emerging technologies to transform their productivity?
In the realm of emerging technologies, the advice of Silicon Valley forecaster Paul Saffo to not mistake a clear view for a short distance remains relevant. As chief information officers (CIOs) seek practical applications for potentially disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, a recent EY survey of 1,001 white-collar US employees and their managers reveals a disconnect between perception and reality.
Specifically, the survey highlights a gap in understanding around three of the 12 technologies surveyed: artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR), and edge computing.
While 85% of senior leaders surveyed see the value of emerging technologies, 48% of all employees surveyed believe those same leaders are dragging their feet or do not fully understand the potential of these technologies to transform business.
This gap between perception and action is a common occurrence when organizations test, trial, and implement emerging tech. For younger employees, who are more familiar with popular consumer technologies such as VR headsets used in gaming, the skepticism may be particularly acute. While 82% of survey respondents reported familiarity with VR/AR, only 24% reported that their company had adopted the technology.
Senior leaders tend to develop stories and narratives about technology and its role within the organization, while employees are focused on action and investment. As a result, employees may not be seeing enough follow-through in terms of action and investment, according to Faisal M. Alam, EY Americas Technology Solutions and Markets Leader.
“Employees are living in a world of ‘doing,’ and from their action-oriented perspective, they’re not seeing enough follow-through in terms of action and investment,” she said.
