analytics Archives - Aptitude Research

Yesterday, I attended a math workshop for parents of elementary schoolers (grades K-5). The workshop was designed to provide more support for students at home and to give parents a better understanding of the math curriculum. I love the idea of learning new ways to better help my kids. But, to be honest, the thought of spending a few hours reviewing multiplication and division was the last thing I wanted to do in the middle of a busy workday.

I went anyway and what I learned was much more valuable than a refresher on algebra.

The presenter kicked off the workshop with this quote: “Good mathematics is not about how many answers you know… it’s about how you behave when you don’t know.” Math teaching has completely changed since I was a kid and is now focused on helping students understand concepts and reasoning. Kids are encouraged to experiment and make mistakes. Teachers want math to be collaborative and fun not scary and condescending. I started to wonder if elementary school is where the true reskilling of the workforce is happening.

As organizations prepare for an AI-future of work or an analytics-driven future of work, empowering employees to adopt new technologies and embrace “math” is a priority. According to TrainingIndustry.com reports, North American organizations spent over $160 billion on corporate training last year. Yet, much of this training for reskilling the workforce is conducted in an “old math” kind of way. It feels intimidating and discouraging. And, it doesn’t promote curiosity or opportunity.

Maybe we need a lesson in “new math”. Maybe we need to think more like elementary students and not be afraid to make mistakes. If we do one thing to reskill our workforce, maybe it should be to create a curiosity around math and data.

Below are some of the takeaways that I learned (based on research from Dr. Jo Boaler, a mathematics professor at Stanford University).

1. Everyone can learn math to the highest levels.

2. Mistakes are valuable.

3. Questions are really important.

4. Math is about creativity and making sense.

5. Math is about connections and communicating.

6. Math class is about learning not performing.

7. Depth is more important than speed.

When you think of Willis Towers Watson, “software” is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. As a leading consulting provider with over 40,000 employees in 140 countries, corporations use Willis Towers Watson’s services to help them grow, develop and retain talent. This firm has a reputation for expertise and excellence in delivering HR solutions to complex organizations. But, what might surprise you (and it surprised me) is its’ commitment to innovation and world-class technology. Willis Towers Watson has a suite of solutions that includes compensation software, assessments, engagement solutions, HR portals, and analytics. These are not traditional or outdated solutions but rather solutions that provide a modern, simple experience and innovative, next generation capabilities. What sets it apart and why I was so impressed with this provider is the combination of software, services, and reliable data. It doesn’t excel in just one of these areas. It provides expertise in all three and offers its customers what seems to be so rare in HR technology…a true partnership.

Each month, we select a different provider to profile that has impressed us and Willis Towers Watson is this month’s selection. Below are some of the more innovative solutions:

– Compensation Software: Compensation is a top priority for organizations this year. When we asked companies what they are looking for in a provider, 1 in 2 companies said the ability to support growth at their organization. Companies want a partner that understands the complexities of compensation management, the dynamics of an evolving market, and can provide the expertise and insight to help them make more strategic decisions. Willis Towers Watson offers a solution to help companies design and analyze and manage their compensation programs with capabilities that include competitive benchmarking, salary structure design, job leveling (to achieve a balance across an organization), and reporting and analytics.

– Engagement Solutions: Engaging employees is one of the greatest challenges facing HR professionals today. According to our 2018 Hire, Engage, and Retain survey, companies that invest in engagement software are 4 times more likely to retain employees and 2 times more likely to improve organizational performance. Willis Towers Watson offers more than just surveys. It offers solutions that measure engagement efforts and create an action plan to improve engagement efforts. It offers pulse surveys – a high growth area of HR tech that 1 in 2 companies plan to increase investment in over the next year. One global consumer goods company decided to implement pulse surveys to better understand local concerns and compare that to the larger employee engagement survey.

– HR Portal: The HR Portal software has several benefits including a better approach for employee communication and engagement. This solution is personalized to the individual so he or she receives information that is relevant and unique to them. The portal is branded to reflect company goals and objectives and includes case management, total rewards dashboards, and analytics. One financial services client with over 80,000 employees uses HR Portal to increase employee participation in total rewards programs and showcase the company brand.

HR technology seems divided between traditional providers (with outdated technology) that are able to support complex global organizations and startups that offer more innovation but lack the security and flexibility that large organizations need. Willis Towers Watson is proving that organizations do not need to sacrifice one for the other. They can have the expertise and the innovation across a suite of solutions.