Interview Ed van der Tak – DEG Group

For years, technology enthusiasts have been waiting for it: the next ‘smartphone moment’, a technology so groundbreaking that it would turn everyone’s life upside down. Generative AI has developed in relative silence, out of sight of the general public, until it was suddenly embraced en masse. Today, everyone is finding smart applications with AI to make daily work and life easier. But what’s the next step?

A.Hak spoke with Ed van der Tak, Director of Knowledge and Development at DEG Group, an innovative consultancy in project management. “At DEG Group, we focus on project management with emphasis on planning, risk, cost and quality. I’m responsible for DEG Academy, training and education for people in project organizations. For almost 20 years, I’ve been thinking about the future of project management. AI doesn’t come out of the blue for me, but the application of AI in project management is moving at lightning speed. As I see it, AI accelerates expertise and teams can work significantly faster. But this does require different skills.”

The latest techniques will enormously support project teams by automating repetitive tasks. This allows professionals to focus even more on (strategic) decision-making and creates more time and space for creativity. The application of AI also leads to smart analyses and reports, enabling project planners and risk managers to deliver results within hours that previously took weeks. Ed: “This is very efficient, especially in these times when we urgently need to accelerate all work. AI also brings a new balance between technical skills and personal skills. Project teams will soon have more time and attention for coordination and making choices.”

AI and robotization on construction sites increase safety and efficiency. Good tools can provide direct practical support, such as analyzing photos of construction sites and generating schedules. Organizations are challenged to develop their own AI apps that align with their work processes. Ed adds: “Always ensure data security. Organizations should consider their own AI systems. AI will also discover ‘hidden’ data, valuable data that we don’t currently use. This will bring opportunities and risks.” New roles are emerging within project organizations, such as a data officer and an AI officer. The digital experts make data workable and monitor guidelines, such as the European AI Act and GDPR.

Learning and conscious experimentation
DEG Group is continuously working on strengthening and accelerating project management through training and development. They expect that within five years, digital colleagues and AI assistants will be commonplace in project teams. Organizations are therefore advised to facilitate controlled AI experiments and learn from other sectors. It offers enormous opportunities, but awareness of risks and ethics remains essential.

Digital colleagues and onboarding
AI is seen as a means to reduce team sizes, accelerate processes and make professionals competent faster. Ed: “You can see AI as a digital colleague or buddy, supporting employees in learning, during ‘onboarding’ and daily activities. At DEG Group, for example, we increase employee confidence through data-supported decision-making and role-playing in training.” The use of AI leads to faster development of expertise and tackling more complex projects.