Designed for
- Professionals involved in process improvement, AI adoption, or automation decisions.
AI & Work
Process First, Automate Next
Understand and improve the work before deciding what to automate.
Course overview
AI and automation projects often begin with technology. This course starts with the work itself: the intended outcome, the current process, the people whose knowledge and judgment matter, and the improvements that should happen before deciding where AI or automation belongs.
The central question is broader than what can be automated: what should the future work look like, and where should AI support it? The answer may involve better preparation, faster research, analysis, drafting, decision support, quality checking, human-AI collaboration, automation, or a deliberate decision not to automate.
What participants will learn
- Define the problem and intended outcome before discussing technology.
- Distinguish different forms and levels of automation.
- Identify work that is and is not a good candidate for automation.
- Assess opportunities using readiness and potential impact.
- Understand the current process using mapping, available data, and stakeholder input.
- Identify waste, rework, delays, unnecessary handoffs, and friction.
- Eliminate, simplify, synchronize, and standardize work before automating it.
- Identify the people whose knowledge and judgment are needed.
- Determine whether automation is still justified after improving the process.
- Choose an appropriate level of AI support or automation for the future work.
What the course covers
The course combines clear concepts with structured reflection and application to professional work.
- Problem and outcome definition
- Automation types and levels
- Readiness and potential-impact assessment
- Process mapping, data, and stakeholder input
- Eliminate, simplify, synchronize, and standardize
- Preparation, research, analysis, drafting, decision support, quality checking, collaboration, and automation
Who it’s for and how to take part
Prerequisites
- No formal prerequisites.
Public courses
Join a scheduled course
Book an individual place on a live virtual course when public enrolment opens.
Teams and organisations
Arrange private delivery
Discuss delivery using relevant examples and context while retaining the course’s core learning objectives.
Public courses
Upcoming dates
Private delivery
Bring this course to your team
Discuss the context, audience, and practical outcomes you want the course to support.