The Two AIs and Z Performance and Capacity Planning
Why human expertise outshines automation: the critical role of actual intelligence in Z enterprise performance
In the Z enterprise environment, there are two distinct forms of AI: artificial intelligence and actual intelligence. One AI is imperative, while the other AI has a long way to maturity.
It’s exciting to be part of the world of computer performance at the dawn of AI. Yet, as a performance guy, I believe it’s important to exercise temperance and not to buy into all the marketing hype just yet.
Why? Because currently, and for the foreseeable future, companies should first invest in “actual intelligence,” or the knowledge, expertise and experience of humans.
I recently received a call from someone wanting to get into the field of mainframe computer performance. This person wanted to know if they should invest their time and money into a career here there has been so much hype of AI. I assured them that no matter how hard vendors try, Z enterprise computer performance is still an extremely viable career for the foreseeable future. Not only that, but despite the rise and hype of artificial intelligence, the actual intelligence of the human workforce in IT will continue to be invaluable—here’s why.
6 Truths About Actual Intelligence
- Actual intelligence provides a deep contextual understanding of the environment, business objectives, trends and constraints. A contextual understanding helps interpret complex performance measurements and make decisions that align with broader company goals.
- Actual intelligence enables complex problem-solving, which usually requires intuition, creativity and situational awareness that AI cannot achieve.
- Actual intelligence allows decisions based on judgment and experience. There are many real-world considerations and constraints that cannot—and should not—be parameterized into AI engines.
- Actual intelligence comes from real-world experience, which allows analysts to help identify and debug both subtle and complex problems.
- Actual intelligence allows performance analysts to collaborate and share ideas. Humans can learn from their colleagues who specialize in other areas.
- Actual intelligence allows us to understand the broader implications of recommendations and changes. Humans are more adaptive to changes in business and world events, so we can act depending on what is technically best and optimal for the business.
While AI is all the hype, remember to invest heavily in actual intelligence, which is so much more than analyzing data patterns and automation. Invest in the strength of your workforce!