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Applied AI & Strategy

NWETC AI class: the instructor beside the course slide for Applied AI & Strategy, with the quote “It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.” (W. Edwards Deming)

Applied AI & Strategy

AI-105

Redesign Work, Plan What's Next

What you'll find out

How do I redesign our work around AI, back my analysis with evidence, test a small solution and plan what's next?

  • Redesign WorkThe result · Cut first · Who does what
  • Build SolutionsCheck sources · Build small · Test it
  • Plan AI StrategyAre you ready? · What first · In stages

Crawl, Walk, Run. Each part builds on the last: redesign the work, check the evidence, build and test, then plan what's next. It's a loop, not a ladder.

Across the course

  • You stay in chargeA named person owns every step that matters.
  • Measured, not guessedCompare before and after. How much time people feel they saved isn't proof.
  • What it reads isn't an orderEmails, documents and pages it reads are information, not commands.
  • Proven before it growsExpand a change only when the results support the next step.
  • Work others can checkMaps, sources, tests and plans that work in any AI tool.
  • It's a grindExpect wins, misses and light-bulb moments, often in the same session. Every miss teaches you something.

What you'll have the opportunity to build

  • Redesigned workflow + a staged rollout
  • Decision brief with each claim checked
  • Small working version + its test results
  • Strategy brief: what first, in stages
  • Draft AI use rules + named next steps

How you'll learn

Hands-on from the start: you redesign a workflow, check research, build a small solution and plan in stages, on material we provide, with instructors who use AI in their own work.

You decide what happens to every AI result: accept it, verify it against the source, reject it if unsupported, or escalate it to an expert.

Adding AI to a broken process gives you a faster broken process.

Fix the work first.

Since mid-2024, NWETC has changed its ways of working by incorporating AI tools. We earned that expertise the hard way, through constant practice, success and failure, and every class gives you hands-on time applying AI tools in your professional role.

Course details

Usual length
Two days
Usual times
8:30 am to 4:00 pm Pacific
CEUs
1.40
Intended audience

You use AI well and want to change how the work itself gets done.

Prerequisites

Building AI Agents or similar; Managing AI Employees helps. No coding needed.

Course Topics
  • Redesigning a Workflow: Start from the result you need, map how the work really runs, cut what no one needs, then decide who or what does each step.
    Covers: The result first, not the tool · How the work really runs · Cut first, then automate · A person, AI or a simple rule? · Checks where a mistake would cost most
    Practice + build: Map how one job really runs · Cut steps, assign the rest · Run hard cases through it · Defend it to reviewers
  • Research & Analysis You Can Defend: Plan the research before you search, check that each source says what's claimed, and show what's still unknown.
    Covers: A clear question first · Sources you can rely on · Does the source really say it? · Comparing many documents at once · Where sources disagree, what's missing
    Practice + build: Write the research brief · Find the planted errors · Challenge each other's analysis · Write a brief for the decision-maker
  • Building & Testing a Solution: Turn a problem into a small working version, without code, and test it before anyone relies on it.
    Covers: What it must do, and how you'll know · Costlier mistake, more testing · The simplest setup that does the job · Who checks it, who can stop it
    Practice + build: Say what you're testing, then build · Build it without code · Test normal and hard cases · Show it, then go, limit, fix or stop
  • AI Strategy for Your Organization: Decide where AI fits: check what's proven, whether you're ready, and what comes first. Then commit one stage at a time.
    Covers: Where you will and won't use AI · Proven, or just announced? · Ready: people, data and rules · What changes in people's jobs · Spend in stages you can stop
    Practice + build: Sort new tools: watch or test · Rank your AI ideas · Draft your AI use rules · Next steps: names, dates
Course Materials
Attendees will receive a course ebook.
What to bring

Computer with internet access

Course Subject
Course family
Upcoming Course Sessions Format Session Schedule Location Price Registration status
AI-105 June 16-17, 2027 Live Online, Instructor-Led June 16, 2027, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Pacific
June 17, 2027, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Pacific
$895 Open
AI-105 December 6-7, 2027 Live Online, Instructor-Led December 6, 2027, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Pacific
December 7, 2027, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Pacific
$895 Open

Cancellations

  • 31 or more days' notice: full refund or course credit.
  • 8 to 30 days: course credit.
  • Fewer than 8 days: no credit.

Credits are good for one year on any course. Attendee replacement is welcome anytime.