AI, ethics, and smarter experimentation

Michael Warren, Associate Vice President and BIM Director at AECOM, rejoins us on Fail Faster after his riveting previous episode.

Michael reflects on lessons learned from his journey as an early adopter of 3D technology and dives into how leaders can balance innovation, fiscal responsibility, and ethics in an era defined by digital transformation, AI, and big data. From managing generational gaps in tech adoption to setting measurable KPIs for smarter experimentation, Michael offers actionable insights for navigating today’s fast-evolving landscape. This episode is packed with compelling stories, including strategies for embracing failure, building better experiments, and leveraging the human mind as the ultimate tool for innovation. Don’t miss this engaging discussion that challenges conventional leadership paradigms and inspires forward-thinking solutions.

In a snapshot

Takeaways

• It’s okay to admit when you don’t have all the answers; being open to learning is crucial for growth.
• Clearly articulate what success looks like for your audience and identify potential failures to set expectations effectively.
• Before presentations, list your assumptions to guide outcomes and refine future engagements based on audience needs.
• Conduct small, low-cost experiments to learn quickly from failures rather than risking large investments in untested ideas.
• Encourage an environment where failure is accepted and shared, promoting continuous improvement and learning from mistakes.
• Actively seek feedback and be prepared to adapt your presentation based on audience reactions and questions to enhance understanding and engagement.

Insights

Embrace Uncertainty: Michael emphasizes the importance of being open to not having all the answers immediately. It’s acceptable to acknowledge when you need more time to gather information and provide a well-informed response.

Smart Experimentation: According to Michael, Smart Experimentation is intentional, goal-oriented testing rather than random actions or mistakes. It begins with clear hypotheses and focuses on addressing one KPI at a time to ensure clarity and priority alignment. Each experiment—whether it succeeds or fails—is a learning opportunity, with documented outcomes shaping future strategies.

Dashboarding: Visual tools like dashboards and pie charts play a crucial role in tracking progress, showcasing resource allocation, and effectively communicating findings to stakeholders. By staying focused, documenting insights, and leveraging data-driven metrics, smart experimentation enables structured growth and informed decision-making.

Document Assumptions: Before presentations, he advises itemizing assumptions that will guide the outcomes. This practice helps in refining future presentations and aligning with audience expectations.

Fail Fast and Cheap: He encourages conducting small, low-cost experiments to learn quickly from failures rather than pursuing large-scale projects that may lead to significant losses.

Support a Culture of Learning: Michael advocates for a culture where failure is tolerated and even celebrated, encouraging individuals to share their failures and the lessons learned from them. This aligns with principles of continuous improvement.

The Value of the Human Brain: As discussions around AI and machine learning grow, he highlights that the human brain remains the most powerful tool. The effectiveness of technology depends on how we utilize our cognitive abilities