Chefs, Flavour Profiles and Technical Program Management.

Harnessing the potential of mental models

Mental models provide frameworks to analyse situations, scenarios and problems. As an illustration, the “First Principles” model advocates breaking down problems / scenarios to their essential elements or fundamental principles, questioning assumptions, before proposing solutions.

Junior Chefs and Flavour Profiles

To master their profession, junior chefs must become proficient in a number of techniques, e.g. flavour profiles and food combinations.

Technical Program Management (TPM)

As a delivery focused role, there are overlaps with business analysis, product / project management. The role is mostly found in fields that require high scientific or technical expertise such as Machine Learning, Cloud. 

The post makes the case for TPM’s to identify, select and utilise mental models in the same manner that junior chefs master their own techniques. The benefit - better decision making and project outcomes.

How to improve and speed up your decision making process

Mental models” Learn how to think better and gain a mental edge

Generative AI at EY

Conversation with John Thompson, Artificial Intelligence Leader at EY. Thompson discusses how EY implemented Generative AI for 275,000 of EY's 420,000 employees using Azure OpenAI. Topics covered include :

• Data Privacy

• Addressing InfoSec concerns

• Compliance

• Productivity Improvements

• Causal AI and Synthetic Data 

At 40 minutes, this is a lengthy video. Check out the description for related links and courses.

Can an AI make a data-driven visual story?

In their own words, The Pudding “... makes cool s*** on the internet”. 

The article hypothesis - “Can an AI make a data-driven visual story?”

The Pudding break the storytelling process into four steps:

1. Idea Generation

2. Data Collection & Analysis

3. Storyboarding & Prototyping

4. Development & Writing

The overall grade for the AI (Anthropic’s Claude) C+ 🤔

Read for the reasons behind the grading, as well as when AI can be used in the storytelling process.

Napkin.ai Beta Testing

"Napkin is an AI-based tool for visual storytelling for business people to bring life to their presentations using generative AI."

The free beta version is available to play around with test.

The interface is intuitive, enter the text, click "spark" to generate a range of visuals. Two examples are shown below:

Example 1

Example 2

Users have the ability to add images, edit text, images and change styles.

It's beta, so the range of visuals is limited. However, add more visual formats, the ability to create short videos and a go-to tool starts to emerge!

Success ≠ Intelligence

Experts James Suzman, Tyler Cowen and Cal Newport discuss three work based topics.

Topic 1 -  How did work shape society?

 Suzman highlights three revolutions that changed work and the organisation of work - a) Invention of Fire, b) Farming and c) Cities

Question 2 - How FOMO can help you identify talent

Research by the National Bureau of Economic Research in 2020, valued total global talent at $552 trillion!  

Cowen makes the point that “we’re” not taking talent management seriously - leading to inequality, lack of productivity and wasted potential.

Later in the video, Cowen makes the case that venture capital is the best industry for identifying talent. 

Question 3 - The art of accomplishment without burnout

Newport urges slow productivity, essentially: 

1. do fewer things (at once)

2. work at a natural pace

3. obsess over quality 

In discussing talent, Newport introduces John Hammond. As a talent scout, Hammond inspired, unearthed music legends such as Count Basie, Aretha Franklin, Benny Goodman and Bruce Springsteen.

His driving force was a love for music, which helped him to find talent, regardless of gender, race. After which he provided the opportunities. 

An engaging (24 minute) video from BigThink.