Author: Peggy Smedley
If there is one thing the construction industry has struggled with for decades, it is fragmentation and data silos. In recent years, we have seen some changes that could shake up the industry a bit. Case in point: Autodesk Forma, which saw a big announcement earlier this month. But before we get to that new announcement, let’s journey back to the birth of Autodesk Forma. In May 2023, Autodesk introduced Forma with the early iteration targeting planning and design processes. In 2023, the product aimed to help users rapidly evaluate dozens of design options and improve upon the desired qualities…
The manufacturing industry is standing at a critical inflection point. The rise of automation and AI (artificial intelligence) signals a new era of work, one where innovation, intelligence, and workforce evolution converge. With this also comes the opportunity to bring manufacturing back to the United States, which is something I have been championing for more than a few decades. I almost can’t believe it has been that long now. The key will become how organizations align innovation and execution because the hard reality is innovation needs to be practical, scalable, and sustainable. The exciting part is we are beginning to…
If you want to understand where construction safety is headed, then you need to pay attention to what the research shows, as it can provide a blueprint for the future of work. Recently, the American Society of Safety Professionals released a new report highlighting the future of workplace environmental health and safety. The research compiles feedback from safety professionals, including key takeaways, to identify trends impacting the safety profession across all industries. Although, the findings are particularly insightful for the construction industry, which still ranks as one of the top industries with the highest rates of workplace deaths. The American…
On Aiglatson, Peggy Smedley and cohost Dennis Draeger, foresight director, Shaping Tomorrow, talk about big signals that are realigning how talent moves and leadership sits. He says the trend with AI (artificial intelligence) cuts both ways in the hiring process. They also discuss: · City states vs nation states and the impact on the workforce. · Hybrid vs return-to-office mandates and the impact on work. · How the leadership pipeline and workforce planning will all be rewritten. https://peggysmedleyshow.com
Peggy Smedley and Steve Yates, CEO, Buildxact, talk about how the construction industry is evolving quickly and the next wave of meaningful innovation. He says small business builders are trying to determine how to grow with the resources they have. They also discuss: · How technology can help solve some of the challenges for small business builders. · Labor shortages and the importance of recognizing the highest and best use of workers. · The difference between the availability of the data and the usefulness of the data. https://www.buildxact.com/
The conversation around AI (artificial intelligence) has long been rooted in the digital world—algorithms, dashboards, and predictive models. But as John Reed, general manager, manufacturing and mobility, Asia, Microsoft, and Matt Hatton, founding partner, Transforma Insights, both explained to me in March on my podcast The Peggy Smedley Show, the real transformation is happening at the intersection of digital and physical. This is where “physical AI” emerges: intelligence that doesn’t just live in software, but lives in the environment around us. In industries like construction and manufacturing, that leap will be essential as we move forward. Yet for process and…
The construction industry has always been complex, with projects involving countless moving parts—labor, materials, timelines, budgets, and stakeholders. For decades, many of these elements were managed through disconnected systems, spreadsheets, and paper-based processes. Today, the evolution of construction technology is being driven by advancements in ERP (enterprise resource planning), project management, and accounting systems. Journey back a couple of decades. Historically, construction firms often relied on separate tools for different functions. Project managers tracked schedules in one system, accountants managed finances in another, and executives relied on periodic reports that were often outdated by the time they were reviewed. This…
Peggy answers one big question: What happens to middle management in the age of AI (artificial intelligence)? She says the conversation around middle managers needs to shift from whether we need them to what kind of managers we need. She also discusses: · The role of middle management historically and today. · Research that suggests organizations are using AI to flatten structures. · The real risk if we fail to evolve middle management. https://peggysmedleyshow.com
Peggy Smedley and Surya Ramkumar, strategist, author, and speaker, talk about why progress feels stuck and human agency in a machine-accelerated world. She says we are taking the fastest path forward, cutting costs in the easiest parts to cut. They also discuss: · The future of industry and the leader of the future. · Key questions good leaders should be asking today. · Shorter hiring and firing cycles. https://suryaramkumar.com/
Peggy Smedley and Amy Clark, author, talk about how leadership is changing—and what modern leadership should really look like. She says relevance is a choice, explaining that it happens when we default to what is familiar rather than what is needed. They also discuss: · What it looks like to unlearn—and three key things to consider. · Replacing reacting with reflection. · Practicing and experimenting in public. https://www.unseenleadership.com