Rethinking Operational Workflows for the Electric Power Industry of the Future

The electric power industry is in the midst of seismic change that is redefining business processes and compelling utilities to rethink how they serve their customers.

Climate change, the need for grid modernization, artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies, along with a rapid buildout of data centers across the United States and around the world, are contributing to energy demand growth the likes of which the industry hasn’t seen in decades. The ongoing reshoring of manufacturing, electrification of transportation, and industrialization of the U.S. economy are further fueling this trend. In addition to these, resource and talent constraints create an immense challenge at this critical time.

Meeting the energy demands of today and tomorrow will depend on the buildout of new critical energy infrastructure and technology of all kinds, upgrades to existing assets to better and more efficiently serve customers, and significant investment.

Fundamentally, success will depend on the ability to manage change—and on companies that can effectively navigate that change while accepting that “business as usual” is no longer an option.

Managing change is not easy, and it is not a common skill set in an industry with lean operating teams. And, given that no two companies share the same infrastruc-ture needs—customer dynamics, operating budgets, and long-term growth targets—there are no one-size-fits-all solutions.

The introduction of new and efficient technologies needs to be heavily scrutinized at an operational level. A new device or program without a pre-planned workflow solution typically will not deliver the return that companies expect.

Navigating the scale of this change demands the experience of diverse and versatile teams laser-focused on process and project management, organizational development, inventory control, and other relevant operational needs. Leadership teams need to quickly learn about what they don’t know and understand how best to leverage cutting-edge technologies and support cross-functional teams to ultimately realize their strategic goals.

Expert consulting teams, like those at Kairos Worldwide, are already proving to be a tremendous asset to utilities looking to better serve customers while driving robust, sustainable growth. With an existing customer base including companies like Ameren, the Exelon Corporation, Southern Company, and the U.S. Department of Energy, Kairos Worldwide is a trusted partner helping companies close the gap between planning and activation. We achieve this by combining a very focused listening ear with deep skills in collaborative process design and support in navigating the organizational changes that are necessary to support sustainable growth and business success

Navigating a Shifting Landscape

Change management experts bring a fresh perspective that helps businesses navigate the future with confidence. That’s particularly important for an energy landscape that is constantly changing—and with a workforce that is older, on average, than the rest of the labor market. Nearly 1 in 5 workers in the utility industry is at least 55 years old, while only 31 percent of workers are younger than 35, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With some organizations downsizing and others navigating a wave of retirements from long-standing industry veterans, the risk of “brain drain” poses considerable risk to operational efficiency.

While this is a daunting challenge to navigate internally, it can be remedied with the help of a team like the one at Kairos Worldwide, which is dedicated to redesigning workflows to improve efficiencies, empower teams, and help people thrive in their evolving roles. And our experience has provided us with deep insights into the motivations and mindsets of the varying demographic groups that comprise the current workforce profile. We can help to design change management strategies that work to engage employees, wherever they are in their career trajectories, and drive adoption of new processes and tools. Stakeholders have different needs. We recognize that and adapt and tailor as needed to promote successful adoption.

Whether that work takes the shape of high-level risk analysis or developing comprehensive methodologies to analyze the performance of geographically diverse assets, good change management leaders treat clients’ greatest operational challenges as their own, delivering successful and enduring outcomes.

At Kairos Worldwide, our suite of custom solutions targets three key areas:

• Organizational Change Management: We know that effective change does not happen in a vacuum. We collaborate with your team to create customized change programs tailored to fit your organization’s requirements, focusing on organizational analysis, sponsor and leadership engagement, collaboration, training and organizational development, and establishing clear and structured reporting processes. We pay very close attention to cultural imperatives and ensure that all change management strategies align with and support a culture that thrives and is evolving to meet the future.
• Process Reengineering: Old habits are difficult to break, so it can be challenging to make new processes stick. We work side-by-side with your organization to assess your existing processes, systems, and procedures to optimize efficient and lasting solutions.
• Project Management: Establishing schedules, budgets, scope, and necessary changes is the backbone of everything we do. We establish key metrics upfront and blend process reengineering, project controls, and change management methodologies into our work to increase parameter accuracy, improve cross-functional collaboration, and lead to higher levels of adoption

By working with third-party experts to establish strong and durable internal practices, the path to success through a rapidly changing landscape becomes much clearer. That clarity can make a world of difference for companies, their customers, and their long-term goals.

Visit kairosww.com to learn more.