Tag Archives: Productivity

Avanade appoints Rodrigo Caserta as new CEO!

On 16 August 2024, Avanade – a leading Microsoft solutions provider, has just appointed Rodrigo Caserta as its new CEO, with immediate effect.

Rodrigo Caserta (left in photo below), who was previously the Global Technology Business Group Lead at Avanade, succeeds Pamela Maynard (right in photo below), who will depart at the end of August to join Microsoft as Chief AI Transformation Officer for Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS).

Karthik Narain, Avanade Board Chair and Group Chief Executive at Accenture Technology, expressed enthusiasm for Caserta’s appointment: “Rodrigo’s extensive experience and leadership within Avanade make him the ideal choice for CEO. His deep understanding of our clients and commitment to our team will drive our growth and innovation. I extend my gratitude to Pam for her transformative leadership, which doubled our business and enhanced our focus on inclusion and diversity.”

Rodrigo Caserta’s Vision For Avanade

Rodrigo Caserta is a veteran of nearly a decade at Avanade, who has contributed significantly to Avanade’s success. Under his leadership as General Manager of Brazil and later as President of Growth Markets, Avanade experienced notable revenue and headcount growth in Asia Pacific and Latin America. Originally from Brazil, Caserta recently relocated from Singapore to the United States with his family.

Caserta shared his excitement about his new role: “It’s an honour to follow in Pam’s footsteps. She brought me into Avanade nearly a decade ago and the wisdom I’ve gained from her is invaluable. It’s a privilege to uphold her legacy as Avanade’s next CEO”

“In an era marked by complex challenges, fierce competition, and the imperative to capitalise on AI, our clients have consistently found a trusted partner in Avanade. I am excited and look forward to this opportunity to lead – guided by our deep expertise, bold ambitions and a spirit of collaboration.”

Pamela Maynard’s New Role At Microsoft

Pamela Maynard, who has been a pivotal figure in Avanade’s growth, will transition to Microsoft as Chief AI Transformation Officer for MCAPS – the Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions division.

Judson Althoff, Microsoft’s Chief Commercial Officer, welcomed Maynard to her new role: “We are excited to welcome Pamela to Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions as our first Chief AI Transformation Officer, where she will leverage Microsoft’s AI portfolio to drive our internal transformation and work directly with customers to accelerate theirs. For nearly a decade, Microsoft and Avanade have been at the forefront of AI innovation, with both Pam and Rodrigo playing a critical role in advancing our progress. I look forward to this new chapter, confident in their leadership and expertise, as we further strengthen the longstanding partnership between Microsoft and Avanade and pioneer new advancements in our industry.”

Reflecting on her tenure, Maynard said, “After 16 remarkable years at Avanade, now is the right time to transition to new leadership and Rodrigo is the perfect choice for our next CEO. Reflecting on my five-year tenure as CEO, I am proud of what we’ve achieved as an organization.”

“We’ve solidified Avanade’s position as the preeminent leader in the Microsoft ecosystem – consistently earning recognition from industry analysts, market leaders, and Microsoft itself. And our workplace culture – celebrated by Newsweek, Glassdoor, and more – is a clear reflection of our deep commitment to inclusion, diversity, and wellbeing. As AI continues to transform the industry, I am excited to have the opportunity and grateful for the confidence Microsoft’s leadership has in me to lead critical work in my new role.”

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Avanade study: Familiarity reduces workplace fears of AI!

A recent study by Avanade highlights a significant shift in workplace attitudes towards generative AI, offering valuable insights into how organisations can encourage employees to embrace generative AI.

The Avanade report explored the experience of 700 global employees at Avanade who used Copilot for Microsoft 365 through a seven-week study. This study represents the largest pilot of Copilot for Microsoft 365 conducted during the Early Access Program.

The study investigated the impact of the generative AI tool on six human metrics in the workplace: communication, creativity, trust, work satisfaction, belongingness, and organisational citizenship behaviour. Overall findings revealed increased structured creativity, idea sharing and problem solving, but limited improvements to spontaneously generated or original thinking.

Key findings from Avanade study on workplace fears of AI

The Avanade study sheds light on how familiarity with generative AI is alleviating workplace fears, leading to greater acceptance and integration. Here are key findings from the Avanade study…

Communication

Initially, 72% of employees were apprehensive about how Copilot for Microsoft 365 would handle meeting transcriptions. By the end of the study, 45% of employees felt less cautious about their communications, reflecting a shift towards more open dialogue as familiarity with the tool grew.

Creativity and Innovation

Avanade observed a 2% increase in overall creativity and innovation, with the score rising to 82%. Acceptance of new working methods improved from 80% to 89%. However, there was a slight decrease in preference for tasks requiring original thinking.

Trust

The study found that 88% of employees felt Copilot for Microsoft 365 aligned with corporate values, while 65% believed it matched their personal values. Satisfaction with the tool’s assistance was at 75%, but concerns about transparency (78%) and accountability (65%) highlighted the need for clearer decision-making processes and governance.

Work Satisfaction

After implementing Copilot for Microsoft 365, 85% of employees reported a strong sense of accomplishment, and 80% remained engaged with their tasks. This suggests that the tool integrated smoothly into daily workflows without diminishing job satisfaction.

Belongingness

Team cohesion levels remained stable, with 85% of employees feeling consistent support from colleagues. Nevertheless, there was a 2% decline in the sense of belonging and team collaboration, indicating potential areas for improvement.Its seamless integration into Zoom Workplace not only provides a unified platform for communication and collaboration, it also ensures that users can access all their tools and documents in one place, streamlining workflows and enhancing overall efficiency.

Organisational Citizenship Behaviour

The study showed an increase in technological adaptability to 86%, suggesting that Copilot for Microsoft 365 promotes technical skill development. Altruism and courtesy remained steady at 88%, indicating the tool did not negatively impact the collaborative and supportive culture of the organization.

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Zoom Docs transforms collaboration + meeting efficiency with AI

On August 5, 2024, Zoom officially launched Zoom Docs, a new AI-first solution designed to revolutionise the way teams collaborate and manage documents. As part of Zoom Workplace, this collaborative document solution with generative AI aims to enhance meeting effectiveness and streamline project planning.

Zoom Docs is our first Zoom Workplace product with generative AI built in from the ground up; it effortlessly transforms information from Zoom Meetings into actionable documents and knowledge bases, so teams can stay focused on meaningful work.

Zoom Docs is included at no additional cost with Zoom Workplace paid licenses, creating even more value for our customers. With AI Companion available every step of the way, Zoom Docs is purpose-built to empower people to ‘work happy’ and give them more time back in their day.

– Smita Hashim, chief product officer at Zoom

Zoom Docs represents a significant advancement in collaborative technology, combining the power of AI with the versatility of Zoom Workplace. Here is how it offers businesses a cutting-edge solution for enhancing team collaboration and productivity.

AI-Driven Document Creation

Zoom Docs leverages advanced artificial intelligence to assist in creating documents quickly and accurately. ith features like content generation, automated editing suggestions, and optimized formatting, users can create and refine documents faster and more accurately. The AI assists in structuring content, suggesting improvements, and ensuring consistency, making document management simpler and more effective.

Enhanced Team Collaboration

Thanks to its AI Companion, teams can collaborate in real-time on documents, share feedback instantly, and track changes seamlessly. The integration of AI tools facilitates smoother collaboration by automating routine tasks, highlighting important changes, and ensuring that all team members are on the same page.

Streamlined Project Planning

Zoom Docs supports comprehensive project planning by providing tools for task management, scheduling, and progress tracking. AI-driven insights help teams prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and allocate resources efficiently. This streamlined approach to project planning ensures that teams can stay organized and focused on achieving their goals.

Benefits for Meeting Efficiency

Meeting productivity is enhanced by allowing participants to access and edit documents directly within the Zoom meeting platform. This integration reduces the need for switching between applications, saving time and improving focus during meetings.

Seamless Integration Into Zoom Workplace

Its seamless integration into Zoom Workplace not only provides a unified platform for communication and collaboration, it also ensures that users can access all their tools and documents in one place, streamlining workflows and enhancing overall efficiency.

Zoom Docs with AI Companion Price + Availability

Zoom Docs is available beginning today for users of the Zoom Workplace app, version 6.1.6 or later, which can be downloaded from the Zoom website. It can also be accessed from the Docs web homepage or the Zoom Web App.

Zoom Docs with AI Companion is included with all paid Zoom Workplace plans*. Basic (free) users can create up to 10 shared docs and unlimited personal docs without AI Companion but can upgrade to Zoom Workplace Pro, Business, or Enterprise plans for access to AI Companion capabilities across Zoom Workplace, including Docs. Account owners and admins may enable or disable AI Companion.

*Note: AI Companion is included at no additional cost with the paid services assigned to Zoom accounts. However, it may not be available for all regions and industry verticals.

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

Recommended Reading

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Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!