Beyond the Feature

You can either fight against the waves, or learn how to surf. This episode explores the wave of AI and why it is better not to fight against it, but to learn about it to shape how it is best used. Responsible AI is not just there, it has to be learned, and regular opportunities for lerning about the tool will help the worker or student understand how they can not be replaced by AI, but can enhance their understanding and value by being the human in the room!

#AI #AILiteracy #FutureOfWork #organizationalLeadership #Education #beyondthefeature

www.beyondthefeature.com

www.auditsolv.com

www.drpjj21.com

Here I talk about a concept we used to present on 20 years ago when I was a teacher, helping other teachers know about the technology resources we had, and asynchronous training in powerpoint. It stemmed back to flexibility of time, place and space for helping students learn. Still real today, and even moreso in our workplaces. But this was also true 2400 years ago. So fun field trip podcast today!

#time #place #space #microsoft365 #organizationalleadership #asynchronous #beyondthefeature #auditsolv www.beyondthefeature.com

In this episode, I explore the nuances of working from anywhere, emphasizing the importance of cloud infrastructure, security, and organizational culture in enabling remote work effectively. I actually practice what I preach, and this episode is on a field trip to Forest Park in Saint Louis! Stick around to the end for the photo dump from the rest of the field trip through the park. All this and home before anyone woke up.

Like, share, hype, follow, donate, whatever else you want to do!

#remotework #workfromanywhere #cloudcomputing #cybersecurity #MFA #VPN #hybridwork #organizationalculture #beyondthefeature #saintlouis #forestpark #skechers #tonyromo

@olympusacademy

www.beyondthefeature.com

www.auditsolv.com

www.drpjj21.com

I discuss the migration of data to the cloud, focusing on how it impacts end users and the benefits of modern file management systems like OneDrive and SharePoint. I explain why organizations are making these changes and how they enable more flexible, secure, and collaborative work environments.

www.beyondthefeature.com

#cloudmigration #OneDrive #SharePoint #collaboration #modernworkplace #Microsoft365 #digitaltransformation #beyondthefeature

Today I discuss the critical differences between personal and enterprise AI, focusing on data privacy, legal considerations, and best practices for organizations to protect sensitive information while leveraging AI tools.

https://youtu.be/aQvsLVbwzE8

www.beyondthefeature.com

#AIsecurity #dataprivacy #enterpriseAI #personalAI #shadowAI #responsibleAI #beyondthefeature

In this episode of Beyond the Feature, I unpack a phrase that shows up in a lot of technology conversations: 'organizations across SLED, commercial, and manufacturing sectors are navigating today's evolving technology landscape.' I explain what it means and why it matters. Going sector by sector in plain, practical terms, the episode looks at what's actually happening in State, Local, and Education organizations (legacy systems, budget constraints, cybersecurity pressures, and the fact that AI/RPA is the number one priority for state CIOs in 2025), in commercial organizations (the 78% AI adoption rate alongside the reality that 95% of initiatives aren't showing measurable results), and in manufacturing (77% AI adoption, physical AI on the horizon, but workforce and change management as the defining challenges). The episode closes with four patterns that run across all three sectors and four practical things any leader in any sector can do with that understanding.

The core framing: every technology challenge is really a people and process challenge wearing a technology costume. The organizations navigating the technology landscape best right now are the ones being most intentional about going beyond the feature.

Key stats: AI/RPA is the number one technology priority for state CIOs in 2025 (NASCIO). Only 19% of SLED leaders who haven't adopted generative AI feel prepared to implement it (Presidio, 2024). 78% of commercial organizations use AI in at least one function (McKinsey, 2025). 77% of manufacturers have implemented AI to some extent as of 2025 (up from 70% in 2023). One in five manufacturers plans to deploy physical AI within two years (Deloitte, 2026). The top obstacles in smart manufacturing are organizational transformation, operational risk, and talent shortages — not technology (Deloitte, 2025).

Resources mentioned:

Cloud strategy, governance, and technology consulting across all sectors — AuditSolv

Microsoft 365 and technology books and courses — olympusacademypress.com

Online courses — Olympus Academy

Podcast and app — beyondthefeature.com

About the host — drpjj21.com

#technologylandscape #SLED #commercial #manufacturing #changemanagement #AI #legacysystems #digitaltransformation #leadership #organizationalchange #beyondthefeature #auditsolv

In this episode of Beyond the Feature, I zoom out from specific tools and workflows to look at the bigger picture: the trends that are reshaping work itself. In plain, practical language and grounded in current research from McKinsey, the World Economic Forum, PwC, Gallup, Owl Labs, Gartner, and others, this episode covers the real state of AI adoption and why most initiatives still aren't showing results, the rise of agentic AI and what it means for how teams are structured, the skills that are growing in value and the ones that are fading, the permanent reality of hybrid work and what the numbers actually say about it, the growing importance of human skills in an increasingly automated world, and five specific priorities for small and mid-sized organizations navigating all of it right now.

Key stats from this episode: 78% of organizations now use AI in at least one function, but 95% of enterprise AI initiatives show no measurable profit impact (McKinsey). AI will displace 85 million jobs and create 97 million new ones by 2030 — a net gain, but unevenly distributed (World Economic Forum). Workers with AI skills earn up to 56% more than peers without those skills (PwC, 2025). 39% of current skills are expected to be transformed or outdated by 2030 (WEF). Remote workers turn over at 4% vs 10% for in-office workers (Owl Labs, 2025). 67% of in-office workers say they deliver the bare minimum; 5% of remote workers say the same (Owl Labs, 2025). Managers influence 70% of employee engagement (Gallup, 2025). 62% of organizations are experimenting with AI agents (McKinsey). Gartner predicts 20% of organizations will use AI to reduce management layers by 2026.

Resources mentioned:

Books and courses on Microsoft 365 and organizational technology — olympusacademypress.com on amazon

Technology strategy and cloud consulting — AuditSolv

Online courses — learn.OlympusAcademy.net

Podcast and app — beyondthefeature.com

About the host — drpjj21.com

#futureofwork #AI #hybridwork #humanskills #organizationalchange #AIagents #workforcedevelopment #beyondthefeature #auditSolv #olympusAcademy #amazon

In this episode of Beyond the Feature, I break down one of the most frustrating patterns in organizations right now: AI tools that work, but that people aren't actually using. The answer is in the science of how people change. This episode covers why the brain resists change (it's wired for efficiency, not novelty), how status quo bias and loss aversion explain most AI resistance, the emotional journey people go through during change and why the 'dip' is where most adoptions fail, the ADKAR framework as a practical diagnostic tool for when adoption isn't happening, why AI is uniquely harder to adopt than other software, and five specific things that actually move the needle, from starting with the person to making the wins visible. The Copilot Workday is referenced as a practical resource for building a real daily AI practice.

Key stats: 70% of AI implementation challenges are people problems, not technology problems (BCG, 2024). Only 14% of senior executives feel they've successfully aligned their workforce with AI (Kyndryl survey). 70% of knowledge workers already use generative AI outside company policy (Microsoft Work Trend Index, 2025). 83% of generative AI pilots fail to reach full production (MIT Sloan and BCG, 2025).

Full Episode at:

Book referenced: The Copilot Workday by Dr. Patrick Jones — available on Amazon through Olympus Academy Press.

Resources mentioned:

The Copilot Workday — available on Amazon.com

Full book catalog — olympusacademypress.com

AI strategy and cloud consulting — AuditSolv.com

Online courses — learn.OlympusAcademy.net

Podcast and app — beyondthefeature.com

About the host — drpjj21.com

#AIadoption #changemanagement #behavioralscience #organizationalchange #leadership #beyondthefeature #auditsolv #amazon

In this episode of Beyond the Feature, I take one of the most universally recognized frameworks in professional life, SMART goals, and connect it to the technology ecosystem that can make those goals actually work. Starting with the research (employees with clear goals are 14.2 times more likely to feel inspired, 3.6 times more likely to stay committed to their organization), walking through each element of SMART with the depth it deserves including an honest look at the framework's limits, and then mapping every stage of the goal lifecycle to the Microsoft 365 tools that serve it best. This episode is the missing bridge between a framework everyone knows and the technology most organizations already have.

The episode also addresses Microsoft Viva Goals' retirement at the end of 2025 and uses it to make the broader point that tools change, but the practice and the principles are what produce results, regardless of which tool holds them.

The goal lifecycle mapped to Microsoft 365: Creation and refinement with Copilot, OneNote. Alignment and visibility with SharePoint, Teams channels. Task-level accountability with Microsoft Planner. Real-time measurement with Power BI, SharePoint Lists with Power Automate. Regular communication with Outlook, SharePoint news, Teams meetings with Copilot summaries. Storytelling and retrospectives with Loop, PowerPoint, Power BI, Copilot.

Resources mentioned:

Microsoft 365 workflow and productivity books — olympusacademypress.com

Online courses — learn.OlympusAcademy.net

Goal management and cloud strategy consulting — AuditSolv.com

Podcast and app — beyondthefeature.com

About the host — drpjj21.com

#SMARTgoals #goalsetting #Microsoft365 #goaltracking #organizationalalignment #performancemanagement #goalcommunication #PowerBI #SharePoint #Teams #beyondthefeature

In this episode of Beyond the Feature, I break down what separates a SharePoint intranet that people actually use from one that quietly fades into the digital background. Starting with the research (up to 40% of intranets fail to achieve sustained adoption within their first year, and nearly 60% of intranet managers aren't sure what their intranet's purpose is) the episode walks through why intranets fail, how to start with strategy before a single site is created, the architecture decisions that determine long-term usability (Home Site, Hub Sites, the two-click rule, site type selection), the SharePoint web parts and features that bring a great intranet to life (Hero, News, audience targeting, Viva Connections, Quick Links, People Directory), the content governance practices that keep it relevant, the things that consistently undermine intranet success, and how to measure whether it's actually working.

Key takeaway: A great SharePoint intranet is an employee experience achievement. Design it around what employees need to do, not around how the organization is structured. Govern it with real ownership and a content cadence. Measure it against outcomes, not page views.

Resources mentioned:

SharePoint governance and intranet design consulting — AuditSolv.com

Microsoft 365 and SharePoint books — olympusacademypress.com

Online courses — learn.OlympusAcademy.net

Podcast and app — beyondthefeature.com

About the host — drpjj21.com

#Intranet #SharePoint #EmployeeExperience #ContentStrategy #IntranetDesign #OrganizationalCommunication #beyondthefeature