Doubling AI and data-related skilled workforce in 3 years is talk of whole IT and engineering services arena, but talent strategy is crucial!

Doubling AI and data-related skilled workforce in 3 years is talk of whole IT and engineering services arena, but talent strategy is crucial!

I have been following the newsrooms of major engineering and IT services providers for quite few weeks with specific regard to generative AI and there is something that Accenture in India is doing discernably different from the rest :-

👉 Firstly they have identified 12 roles across data-engineering, full stack LLM development, BI roles and others which make basis for the next step i.e. workforce upskilling

👉 This role identification approach creates a holistic learning environment for the FTEs as these roles did not exist before and they can own up their learning trajectory compared to open-ended learning programs at other providers

👉 As Ellyn Shook mentions only 2% of the companies have responsible AI programmes, Accenture is walking the talk by creating roles around responsible AI

👉 Finally, piece by HCLTech former CEO Vineet Nayar mentions "IT companies will need 70 per cent less people than they used to for the same task" and in this regard he mentions the unethicality associated with making tenured Non-AI FTE's leave firm for AI-based freshers. In this regard as well Accenture seems to be tackling it well as their non-AI tenured FTEs and management committees spend time learning about generative AI, LLMs and other related stuff

Corelating these with the early gains Accenture has seen in generative AI might be hyperbole, but having the right talent strategy has been the key each time a disruption has come!