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