Beyond The Plan
If you work in major infrastructure projects - whether in government or the private sector - then this series is for you.
Host, Ali Farhoodi, is joined by seasoned project managers who share their insights on successful project management strategies, and behind the scenes stories on projects like Sydney Metro, Sydney Light Rail and the Lane Cove Tunnel.
Ali is the Director of EDSICO Management, a boutique, independent, Australian-owned consultancy that provides a range of services to Australian Government agencies and the private sector across all aspects of Project Management and Project Services.
Beyond The Plan
How To Make AI Actually Work Inside Your Organisation | Ep. 08
Need help with managing your next big infrastructure project? Get in touch with our team: https://edsico.com.au/contact-us/
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In this episode, we’re joined by Colin Hickling, Senior Partner at AITW | AI That Works, who brings more than 30 years of experience helping government agencies and large organisations navigate digital transformation. Colin reveals a confronting reality: 95 percent of AI projects fail, not because of the technology, but because organisations lack the governance, accountability, and alignment required to make AI deliver real outcomes.
He breaks down the biggest misconceptions leaders have about AI, including why treating it like an IT experiment leads to inaccurate results, security risks, and wasted investment. Colin shares what the top 5% of organisations do differently, what “living governance” looks like in practice, and how one Australian hospital replaced 30 administrative roles with a single AI system, while improving accuracy, speed, and quality.
If you want to understand how to avoid AI chaos and build a foundation of trust, resilience, and measurable value, this episode gives you a clear, practical roadmap. Perfect for executives, project leaders, and anyone responsible for making AI work inside their organisation.
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Watch the video version of the podcast to see the whiteboard: https://www.youtube.com/@edsicomgt
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CONNECT WITH US
Website: https://edsico.com.au/
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Time Stamps:
00:00 Hook
00:42 Introduction to Colin Hickling
03:05 What AI Really Is and Why Governance Matters
05:41 The Three Levels of AI Capability
12:45 Hospital Case Study: Replacing 30 Admin Staff with AI
14:42 Feedback Loops and AI Accuracy Improvements
16:16 Why AI Projects Fail (and What the Top 5 Percent Do Differently)
17:01 Living Governance Explained
19:58 AI-Enabled Attacks and Global Examples
27:26 From Strategy to Execution: Bridging Vision and Reality
32:34 Culture, Change Management and Mission-Centric Governance
37:04 Medical Decision Support and Digital Fluency
50:40 Cyber Risk as a Business Risk
60:59 The New Accountability Model
1:17:03 Embedding Resilience Across the Organisation
1:19:02 Outro
DISCLAIMER
The information provided in this podcast is for general purposes only and should not be considered personal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals or experts in the relevant field for personalised advice tailored to your specific situation.