Unlock the Potential of Generative AI in Enterprise Technology
New Patterns of Work with Gen AI
In enterprise technology, a fundamental evolution is underway in how tech teams operate. Beyond using gen AI tools for individual productivity boost, leaders are restructuring entire processes and workflows. Two new human-AI interaction patterns are emerging: the "factory" and the "artisan".The "factory" model deploys autonomous gen AI-enabled agents to handle end-to-end work in predictable, routine processes like log monitoring or legacy code migration. Early results show organizations can modernize code nearly twice as fast by orchestrating these agents.The "artisan" pattern uses gen AI tools as assistants for non-deterministic processes that require human judgment and ingenuity, such as cost management and vendor sourcing. Each enterprise technology domain and use case may demand the right human-AI team model. Leaders face the challenge of blending these approaches seamlessly to create a synchronized workflow. To support this, a framework and governance strategy are essential to guide efforts and define the division of labor between human and AI.
New roles and skills are also needed. For AI-led "factory" tasks, supervisors are required to oversee audit mechanisms and ensure accuracy and trust. In human-led processes, experts need to expand their skills, like rapidly iterating solutions. As the adoption of these patterns spreads, technical debt is expected to decrease, allowing staff to focus on innovation. This leads to increased innovation scale and faster IT capabilities with lower costs, driving a strategic reallocation within the enterprise technology portfolio.
Shifting IT Architectures
IT architectures are transforming from traditional application-focused to multiagent architectures. Tech leaders oversee hundreds or thousands of distinct gen AI agents that communicate and collaborate to achieve common goals.Super platforms are the next generation of third-party business applications with built-in gen AI agents, acting as commodities for rapid service. AI wrappers enable enterprise services to communicate with third-party services via APIs without exposing proprietary data. Custom AI agents are internally developed by fine-tuning pretrained models with proprietary data.The choice of platform strategy depends on factors like proprietary data. Super platforms give vendors access to data, while AI wrappers secure internal data. Designing and managing multiagent architectures requires different considerations from application-centric ones. Modular frameworks guide the development of reusable agents, and architectures include various types of agents like orchestration and communicator agents. A central enterprise technology team provides the platform with data layers and tools, while data science and business teams contribute agents for specific problems. The priority shifts to continuous improvement of gen AI agents and underlying data sets.
Organizational Structure and Workforce Development
As automation and AI-human collaboration expand, tech leaders are reshaping organizational structures. In domains relevant to the artisan team model, mid-level employees take on integrated roles spanning strategy and execution. In factory model domains, there is a flattening of the organization with fewer junior roles and a need for supervisors.Communication becomes a critical skill to ensure effective engagement. Senior and junior expert roles change as AI automates tasks. A flatter and potentially leaner organizational model may emerge. This leads to a skills revolution with considerations for workforce and career development. Questions arise about upskilling staff, training senior experts for new roles, creating talent pipelines, and leveraging gen AI without relying on it. Clear baselines and metrics are needed to measure the impact of gen AI on workforce planning.Infrastructure costs also shift as staff productivity rises. Tech leaders need to focus on compute spend to support gen AI agents and manage risks. Evaluating activities for AI-led processes and conducting cost-optimization reviews during agent development can help control costs. Monitoring compute spend during operation is crucial to avoid runaway costs. Using a FinOps as code approach provides real-time insights for effective cost management.
Full adoption of this new enterprise technology model is a long-term goal that requires more than just tools. It depends on understanding where to implement factory and artisan patterns, designing agent architectures, and preparing for talent, cost, and risk implications. Starting with a few domains can help build organizational capabilities and gain efficiencies as they expand.
Unveiling Excellence in Missouri's Construction Realm
Stephen Leamon: A Pinnacle of Craftsmanship
Stephen Leamon, the superintendent of Pace Construction Company, was honored with the Show Me Excellence in Craftsmanship Award. His remarkable achievements in scheduling and budgeting stand out. He consistently minimized downtime and maximized productivity, delivering high-quality asphalt paving. His dedication to training new crew members and seamlessly integrating the workforce into challenging time schedules was also highly commended. His work serves as an inspiration, demonstrating the hard work and dedication of Missouri's construction workforce.Leonard Toenjes, CAE, AGCMO's president, emphasized, "Stephen is just one example of the over 150,000 construction workers who make up Missouri's construction workforce. They build and maintain our essential infrastructure and create our various spaces."
Last night was a time to recognize contractors and their teams for their outstanding performance, often going the extra mile to overcome special challenges.
Keystone Awards: A Showcase of Diverse Projects
Eleven First Place Keystone Awards were presented to contractors on a wide range of projects. Ben Hur Construction won for creating a product manufacturing space for Procter & Gamble, and McCarthy Building Companies was celebrated for completing the new Jeffrey T. Fort Neuroscience Research Building at Washington University School of Medicine.PARIC Corporation captured a Keystone for the Kings Hill Redevelopment, renovating the former Magic Chef oven manufacturing and warehouse space. Russell took home a Keystone for the 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis, a complete renovation and re-imagination of a former YMCA.Other notable projects included the massive I-270 North Design-Build project by Millstone Weber, LLC, an emergency sewer replacement by Elastizell of St. Louis, Inc. for Missouri American Water, and PayneCrest Electric, Inc.'s work on the O’Loughlin Family Champions Center at Saint Louis University's Chaifetz Center. KAI Build, LLC constructed the link bridge to the Jeffrey T. Fort Neuroscience Research Building. Two First Place Keystone Awards also went to Guarantee Electrical Company and Haberberger, Inc. for their specialty contractor performance on MEMC's 300mm SOI Expansion project.National Class: A Florida Rail Feat
The Brightline Florida Higher-Speed Rail project, a joint venture of Herzog Contracting Corp., StacyWitbeck Inc. and RailWorks Corp., was honored with a Keystone Award in the National Class. At over 165 miles long, it represents the largest U.S. passenger rail undertaking in over a century.The Herzog-led HSR joint venture team built a record 129 miles of second mainline track in the existing railroad corridor between West Palm Beach and Cocoa, enabling train speeds up to 110 mph. They also constructed 35 miles of new track to Class 7 standards in a sealed corridor between Cocoa and Orlando International Airports, allowing speeds up to 125 mph.Specialty Contractor of the Year Awards
The AGC of Missouri recognized 12 specialty contractors with Specialty Contractor of the Year (SCOTY) Awards. The specialty contractors were voted "First Place" in their discipline by AGCMO's general contractor members. They considered factors such as timeliness, budget adherence, and overall experience.The 12 First Place Specialty Contractor of the Year (SCOTY) award winners were ROSCH Company (ancillary services), Elastizell of St. Louis (concrete/paving), Bommarito Construction (earthwork/utilities), Guarantee Electrical Company (electrical), Spirtas Wrecking Company (environmental remediation/demolition), TJ Wies Contracting, Inc. (interior and exterior finishes, openings and fixtures), Haberberger, Inc. (HVAC/piping), Grant Masonry Contracting Co., Inc. (masonry), Boyer Fire Protection (plumbing and fire protection), BAM Contracting, LLC (structural and finish carpentry), Collins & Hermann, Inc. (structural and finish metals), and IWR North America (thermal and moisture protection).IBEW/NECA Contractors: Acknowledged for Excellence
IBEW/NECA Electrical Connection contractors Guarantee Electrical and PayneCrest Electric took top honors for project excellence in the AGCMO Keystone Awards. Guarantee was also named the Specialty Contractor of the Year in the electrical category.Guarantee Electrical earned an AGC Keystone Award for its work on the MEMC Silicon Wafer Manufacturing Facility in St. Charles, leveraging its decades of knowledge and engineering prowess to deliver a complex clean room expansion while saving $2 million on the budget. It was also a finalist for an award for its work on the Mercy Center for Performance Medicine and Specialty Care in Creve Coeur. Since 1999, it has been honored 51 times and earned 15 awards.PayneCrest NECA contractor earned an AGC Keystone Award for its work on the O’Loughlin Family Champions Center at Saint Louis University. The project involved design-build of new electrical systems for a two-story building with basement spaces. Since 2002, it has been honored 30 times and earned 13 awards.Since 1997, when the AGC Keystone Awards competition started, 110 Electrical Connection member contractor projects have been honored. These prestigious awards salute projects for safety, overcoming challenges, and quality delivery while maintaining budget and schedule. Electrical Connection contractors like Kaiser Electric, Sachs Electric, Aschinger Electric, Bell Electrical, and TD4 Electric have also earned honors.The Electrical Connection is a partnership of IBEW Local 1 and NECA, providing safe and reliable electrical services across Missouri and the world. It is a valuable resource for business and civic leadership.