Over the course of the pandemic, employees and managers have developed their knowledge and skill sets related to virtual work and now look to optimize the benefits of virtual work post-pandemic. This Advisor includes three steps for hybrid success that organizational leaders can consider as they iden­tify what adoption of — and reliance on — flexible, hybrid work may look like in the post-pandemic world.

Technology — artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), in particular — shows enormous promise in tackling the complexity inherent in sustainability problems. However, technology itself can leave its own environmental footprint. This issue of Cutter Business Technology Journal explores the challenge of leveraging technology to move us toward a more sustainable future, while mitigating its own impact.

Security threats and compulsions are increasing. Attacks on critical infrastructure and ransomware attacks are not unusual, and it's only a matter of time until we see insider attacks and attacks on IoT devices. In this Advisor, the author asserts that architecture's time has come to help address the complexity and sprawl in the security landscape.

In this latest edition of The Cutter Edge, find out why IT is late to its industrial revolution, how AI/ML technologies are driving post-pandemic change, and more!

AI and other advanced, innovative technologies are being applied to precision agriculture to help reduce the environmental impact of such operations. This Advisor explores how one cutting edge company, Iron Ox, is using ML, machine visioning, and autonomous robots to transform the agricultural industry.

As we explore in this Executive Update, there are tangible benefits to basing corporate purpose on sustainability drivers, and sustainable business models are gaining pace. Therefore, businesses should rethink their role in the context in which they operate and adapt their strategy, organization, resources, processes, and culture accordingly.

Prof Tima Bansal leads executive teams in examining: What does sustainable development mean for your business? What can your organization do to tackle sustainable development? How can you assess the success of your initiatives?

This Executive Update presents best practices to help you succeed on your journey of establishing business architecture within your organization, whether you are just starting out or seeking ways to fine-tune engagement with your existing practice.

The value of a great team has never been questioned. What thriving teams have in common is a single vision, a customer on which they can focus, a coach or leader to help them focus, and the authority to work within guardrails without having to stop to get permission to make decisions.

The demonstration of human resilience may end up being more noteworthy than the disruption experienced through the COVID-19 pandemic. Managers, mentors, coaches, and colleagues who are able to identify moments of low resilience can be of the greatest help to the individual employee and overall workplace morale and productivity.

The hype and reality of artificial intelligence (AI) bombards today’s enterprises on an almost daily basis, but what does it take to actually implement it? Simply put, organizations need to address issues across several critical steps in making AI work to their best advantage, including acquiring AI and machine learning (ML) tools. This Advisor explores six main components of AI and ML tools.

Simon Schillebeeckx proposes a focus on regeneration as a way for small carbon footprint firms (e.g., consulting, financial services firms) to make a positive sustainability impact. He highlights that service industry firms can proactively contribute to the regeneration of common pool resources, such as forests and lakes, which often become neglected or overused. What makes regeneration different compared to more traditional donations to a conservation nonprofit is the use of digital technology that enables an organization to lay claim to the eco­system benefits it generates through its support. The digitization of benefits claims provides a transparent accounting system for environmental benefits. Schillebeeckx explains how transparency and accountability can lay the foundation for firms to work together to preserve and restore common pool resources.

Simon Schillebeeckx proposes a focus on regeneration as a way for small carbon footprint firms (e.g., consulting, financial services firms) to make a positive sustainability impact. He highlights that service industry firms can proactively contribute to the regeneration of common pool resources, such as forests and lakes, which often become neglected or overused. What makes regeneration different compared to more traditional donations to a conservation nonprofit is the use of digital technology that enables an organization to lay claim to the eco­system benefits it generates through its support. The digitization of benefits claims provides a transparent accounting system for environmental benefits. Schillebeeckx explains how transparency and accountability can lay the foundation for firms to work together to preserve and restore common pool resources.

Rohit Nishant and Thompson S.H. Teo explore the environmental impact of AI and ML. Specifically, the applications where these technologies add the most value are those that require heterogenous data in complex settings (e.g., optimizing smart cities, modeling climate change). In the process of creating value, these large AI and ML models require energy-intensive computing, leaving a huge carbon foot­print. To counteract these concerns, Nishant and Teo offer the “Align, Reduce, Measure” (ARM) framework for mitigating the environmental impact of AI and ML algorithms. The framework encompasses the organiz­ational structure, addresses data heterogeneity, and measures results to create accountability.

Rohit Nishant and Thompson S.H. Teo explore the environmental impact of AI and ML. Specifically, the applications where these technologies add the most value are those that require heterogenous data in complex settings (e.g., optimizing smart cities, modeling climate change). In the process of creating value, these large AI and ML models require energy-intensive computing, leaving a huge carbon foot­print. To counteract these concerns, Nishant and Teo offer the “Align, Reduce, Measure” (ARM) framework for mitigating the environmental impact of AI and ML algorithms. The framework encompasses the organiz­ational structure, addresses data heterogeneity, and measures results to create accountability.

Jacek Chmiel draws attention to the increasing energy consumption by the electronic devices integrated into our daily lives. In addition to the ubiquitous mobile devices we all carry around, there are billions of devices, not to mention back-end servers, all of which consume energy. Exacerbating this problem are ML and distributed ledger technol­ogies, such as blockchain, that require intensive computing cycles, and use even more energy. The good news is that a greener software development strategy can have significant impact on energy usage of electronic devices. Chmiel explains the challenges to implementing this strategy and how organizations can overcome them.

Jacek Chmiel draws attention to the increasing energy consumption by the electronic devices integrated into our daily lives. In addition to the ubiquitous mobile devices we all carry around, there are billions of devices, not to mention back-end servers, all of which consume energy. Exacerbating this problem are ML and distributed ledger technol­ogies, such as blockchain, that require intensive computing cycles, and use even more energy. The good news is that a greener software development strategy can have significant impact on energy usage of electronic devices. Chmiel explains the challenges to implementing this strategy and how organizations can overcome them.

Cutter Consortium Senior Consultant Curt Hall presents intriguing examples of how corporations and governments use AI and compatible technologies to move us toward a more sustainable world. He explains how many companies are using AI to reduce the energy consumption of … AI(!) and other digital technologies. He illustrates innovative technology-based solutions being developed for tracking carbon emissions and presents a selection of companies targeting key infra­structure areas for carbon reduction initiatives (e.g., data centers, transportation, waste management).

Cutter Consortium Senior Consultant Curt Hall presents intriguing examples of how corporations and governments use AI and compatible technologies to move us toward a more sustainable world. He explains how many companies are using AI to reduce the energy consumption of … AI(!) and other digital technologies. He illustrates innovative technology-based solutions being developed for tracking carbon emissions and presents a selection of companies targeting key infra­structure areas for carbon reduction initiatives (e.g., data centers, transportation, waste management).

This Advisor explores the main function of the quantum bit (qubit), how qubits enable exponential scaling, and how quantum computing is being utilized in the real world, from hybrid approaches to experimenting with development kits.

A challenge we face today is how to leverage technology to move us toward a more sustainable future, while mitigating its own impact. This issue of Cutter Business Technology Journal explores the dual sides of the technology sword — the potential for environmental benefit and harm — and, in true karmic spirit, how technology can help itself be more sustainable.

A challenge we face today is how to leverage technology to move us toward a more sustainable future, while mitigating its own impact. This issue of Cutter Business Technology Journal explores the dual sides of the technology sword — the potential for environmental benefit and harm — and, in true karmic spirit, how technology can help itself be more sustainable.

Cutter Consortium conducted an interview with Dejan Jakovljevic, CIO and Director of the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on how FAO uses technology to reduce world hunger. Jakovljevic tells us how FAO has embraced digital technologies to not only improve its own internal processes but also to develop tools for its members. He explains how FAO transformed from a traditional sequential project management process to a nimble, risk-taking process better suited to addressing the needs of our rapidly changing world.

Cutter Consortium conducted an interview with Dejan Jakovljevic, CIO and Director of the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on how FAO uses technology to reduce world hunger. Jakovljevic tells us how FAO has embraced digital technologies to not only improve its own internal processes but also to develop tools for its members. He explains how FAO transformed from a traditional sequential project management process to a nimble, risk-taking process better suited to addressing the needs of our rapidly changing world.

There are particular business behaviors that actively poison data or degrade data quality. Although not their intention, it’s the direct consequence of how these activities are performed. This Advisor takes a close look at the concept of self-service and how it contributes to the problem of data poisoning.