Doug McElhaney

Our latest McKinsey Global Survey confirms a well known truth of strategy -- organizations that actively reallocate resources to the most promising growth opportunities outperform those that don’t. This is always an interesting discussion in the Defense context, where requirements and acquisition processes are slow and POMing for new money can take years. The most successful leaders I know spend a good bit of capacity working around these challenges to (legally!) find those critical reallocation opportunities. https://lnkd.in/enJGiWYR #Strategy #Growth

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This case study delves into the critical aspect of managing technical expertise within an organization. It sheds light on the repercussions of mishandling key assets, particularly experts. For students in organization design, it offers valuable insights into the delicate equilibrium between specialization and collaboration. The study underscores the essential lesson for leadership roles, emphasizing the necessity of striking a harmonious balance between domain-specific competencies and leadership acumen. Understanding and navigating this fine line is fundamental for sustainable success in any organization that values technical proficiency as its primary differentiator. #OrganizationDesign #Leadership

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If there is any one word that characterizes the aerospace and defense industry over the past several years it has to be #disruption. In our latest A&D minute we share the results of our latest #AlixPartnersDisruptionIndex survey with specific insights on our industry. Both surprising and unsurprising how many senior executives anticipate even more near term disruption.

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The aerospace, defense, and airlines (A&D) industry is facing unprecedented disruption. From geopolitical tensions to talent wars, the stakes are higher than ever. How can A&D leaders drive growth while successfully navigating these turbulent times? My colleagues Ben Brooks, and Rodion Kaplounov explore the concerns A&D executives are facing and how they can address disruption head-on. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eHzdCVsk #aerospace #defense #Disruption

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Generative AI is revolutionizing the manufacturing landscape. With nearly half of executives expecting AI to be a game-changer by 2030, it's time to leverage its power to enhance our workforce. Empower your workforce with Generative AI | West Monroe #AIRevolution #Manufacturing #Innovation Read more here: 

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Scaling GenAI isn't just about innovation - it's about ensuring these systems are reliable, safe, and ethical. My colleagues Anne Kleppe, Randi H Griffin, Dr. Jan Ittner, and Steve Mills reveal that automated testing can rapidly execute high-volume tests, identifying vulnerabilities in minutes that would take human testers hours or even days to uncover. This hybrid approach empowers businesses to harness GenAI's full potential confidently and responsibly.      Check out their full article here: https://lnkd.in/eQvjF8UC 

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Companies within the #A&D sector are focused on long-term #innovation and #emergingtech and are funding these priorities through #divesting non-core assets. Both these segments are likely to benefit from increased government and commercial spending stemming from increased post-pandemic travel and heightened geopolitical tensions. Learn more: https://bit.ly/45EXOoa 

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In reading today's news about Boeing's new #CEO, Kelly Ortberg, I'm reminded of my friend and former Partner, Aaron Sorensen PhD's research into the risks and results of internal/external CEO candidates, published recently in Directors & Boards. Certainly, Boeing faced immense pressure for an external hire and it will be interesting to follow Ortberg's turnaround effort. #CEOsuccession #executivesuccession #externalversusinternal #turnaround #predictiveanalytics #successionplanning #crisismanagement #talentacquisition #aerospaceanddefense #AandD Lotis Blue Consulting https://lnkd.in/eF3jTxpP

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Shifting from traditional project-based funding to product-based funding empowers teams to consistently deliver value, align IT investments with strategic goals, and respond to market demands more effectively. Learn how to successfully create a product centric funding model that begins by funding products (vs. projects) so that each product and platform leader has the autonomy to make and adjust funding (capex and opex) decisions for their teams.

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I am so excited to be featured in IBM’s AI in Action 2024 report. This ground-breaking report shows that across industries: 💹 ~30% of AI Leaders report a greater than 50% improvement in revenue growth rate and profit margins attributable to their AI initiatives. Full report here: https://lnkd.in/g2xxq-na It's a must read! 🧠 The best piece of advice I can give to anyone wanting to be an AI Leader—or to those who want to keep that competitive edge—is to identify use cases that prioritize high impact (even if messy) instead of convenience. It’s tempting to start an AI journey with low hanging fruits and broad productivity, but Leaders focus on end-to-end workflows with a combination of AI, GenAI & automation. 🏆 The champions needs to come from within the teams that own the workflows vs. AI being done to them by an elite AI squad It’s your chance to make a messy flow smart. With so much chatter about AI happening all the time, the AI in Action 2024 report cuts through the noise and helps distinguish the hype from what’s genuinely actionable right now. Feel free to reach out to Mohamad Ali, Kelly Chambliss, Matthew Candy, Glenn Finch, Javier Olaizola Casín, Jesús Mantas, Neil Dhar, Brent Smolinski, Catherine Reese, Deepthi Bollu, Rich Sarcomo, Binoy Damodaran, Jason Prow, Ashek Mahmood, Mario Hime, Ron Koch & team -------- 🔔 If you like such content, I encourage you to connect, comment and repost ♻️ Subscribe to my free ‘AI with Whiskey’ newsletter https://lnkd.in/gK4zrSYv --------

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Tech Writer nerd tangent: I’ve been following the technical writing of Ray Kurzweil since 2007, when my senior seminar professor gave me a copy of The Singularity is Near. Many of his scientific-based predictions have proven to be accurate over the years. To this day, I still look up to Ray Kurzweil’s technical writing. This interview, from 2013, dives into his thoughts on AI, human intelligence, and the convergence/compliment of both. https://lnkd.in/gXd8_6-c

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Excellent article from Michael and Patrick! More than a third of large organizations have some type of transformation program underway at any given time, yet only 12% produce lasting results. Hear from Michael Mankins and Patrick Litre in Harvard Business Review as they unveil a new model for business transformation based on research with top companies, outlining six key practices for lasting change. #TransformationsThatWork

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EY leaders, Jerry Gootee and David Takeuchi break down the complex world of smart connected products in this insightful article. Learn how to leverage these tools for massive ROI. #AdvancedManufacturing #Technology #SmartConnectedProducts

Navigating the AI (or more specifically, LLM) landscape? North Highland's transformation journey reveals how "zooming out" to define intent, identify core knowledge areas, and establish gold-standard training data builds a successful, responsible custom LLM. Learn how strategic knowledge management lays the groundwork for AI adoption that aligns with your organization's unique context and values.

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Navigating the AI (or more specifically, LLM) landscape? North Highland's transformation journey reveals how "zooming out" to define intent, identify core knowledge areas, and establish gold-standard training data builds a successful, responsible custom LLM. Learn how strategic knowledge management lays the groundwork for AI adoption that aligns with your organization's unique context and values.

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Excited to share our thoughts on how to capitalize on the next big profitable growth driver for manufacturers: Industrial SaaS! 🚀 In our report with the Manufacturing Leadership Council of the National Association of Manufacturers - NAM, we explore the significant advantages of SaaS for industrial companies, when done well. Learn how manufacturers can create value for their customers while unlocking new recurring revenue streams. Thanks to all my co-authors Merih Ocbazghi, Katherine Smith, Gregory Emerson, Decker Walker, and Penelope Brown for collaborating on this! #Industry40 #Manufacturing #SaaS #IndustrialSaaS

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Curious about Scaled Agile's new big picture? On Dec 5 at Noon Eastern, join Scaled Agile, Inc. Agile Chief Methodologist Andrew Sales and Frameworx Consulting for a webinar that covers how the simpler and leaner Framework is designed to drive product innovation and business value. Link to register: https://lnkd.in/eYfWApk3 #ScaledAgile #SAFe #Agile #BusinessAgility

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