How Can Technology Reduce Bias in the Workplace?

Technology can't overcome bias entirely, but it can be a massive leap towards gathering better information - and better data can be used to make better decisions

Our memory can lead us astray in an astonishing number of ways, including by causing us to remember things we think we've done, but actually haven't. My guest on today's episode, Dr. Julia Shaw, is best known for her work in the areas of memory and criminal psychology. It's a fascinating topic, and as you'll learn, one that has significant relevance in the workplace.

Julia is a psychologist and honorary research associate at University College London and author of two fascinating books - The Memory Illusion and Evil, as well as being the co-founder of artificial intelligence-based reporting tool Spot.

You can listen below or by visiting the podcast website here.

In our conversation, Julia and I discuss: 

• The role of unconscious bias and the dangers of people using this as an excuse for their far more visible biases
• The application of memory science in the workplace, and how our memories can let us down, particularly in stressful situations 
• How technology and analytics is helping improve reporting on episodes of harassment or discrimination in the workplace
• We look into the crystal ball and ponder what the role of HR will be in 2025

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the topics of bias, diversity and memory and how they impact on human behaviour and the workplace.

Unconscious bias, it’s the term of the moment. It allows us to say, don’t blame me, blame my brain. It lets us off the hook. Most bias is not that invisible – we see it in the data, in the pipelines, in the boardroom

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

To listen to the Podcast and read the transcript of my interview with Julia, head over to myHRfuture by clicking on this link: How can Technology reduce bias in the workplace.

WATCH THE VIDEOS

As well as the podcast, there are a couple of videos available on the myHRfuture YouTube channel highlighting two of the topics Julia and I covered in our conversation. Below is the discussion on The role of Memory Science in the Workplace (link to other video will be added when available).

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If you enjoyed listening to the this week's podcast episode, I'd be grateful if you could take the following steps:

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THANK YOU

A huge thank you to Julia for such a fascinating discussion and for sharing her time and considerable expertise. You can follow Julia on Twitter (where she is particularly active), find out more about Julia on her website - drjuliashaw.com, read her columns on Psychology Today and Scientific American, buy her books The Memory Illusion and Evil: The Science behind Humanity's Dark Side - and connect with Julia on LinkedIn. If you're a film buff, you might enjoy one of Julia's latest articles on 15 Mind-Bending Movies You Need to Watch, which she sub-titles as "these films will challenge your idea of what it means to be human." Enjoy!

Several of Julia's talks can also be found on YouTube a recent TedX London speech on The untold story of witnesses of workplace harassment - see below:

Thanks also to Ian Bailie, Manpreet Randhawa and the myHRfuture team, and last but not least Gapsquare for sponsoring Series 6 of the Digital HR Leaders podcast and video series.

Next week my podcast guest will be Dr Zara Nanu, CEO and Co-Founder of Gapsquare, where we'll look into the role of people analytics in gender and equal pay analysis.

CATCH UP ON PREVIOUS EPISODES OF THE PODCAST

If you haven't listened to some of the other episodes of the Digital HR Leaders Podcast, you can catch up now by clicking on the links below:

• EP 26: Stela Lupushor - How HR can be a Catalyst for Change
• BONUS EPISODE: Volker Jacobs - How to scale Employee Experience
• EP 25: Julie Digby - How HR Drives Transformation and Org Design at Mars
• EP 24: RJ Milnor - How McKesson uses ONA to identify what drives high performance in sales
• EP 23: Rupert Morrison - Rethinking Workforce Planning & Organisation Design
• EP 22: Dawn Klinghoffer - The Evolution of People Analytics at Microsoft
• EP 21: John Boudreau - Reinventing Jobs: The Future of Work and it's impact on HR
• EP 20: Tanuj Kapilashrami - How Standard Chartered designed an exceptional Employee Experience
• EP 19: Anna Tavis: What is Agile HR and how are companies adopting it?
• EP 18: Sarah Johnson: How to use employee surveys to create strategic value
• EP 17: Leena Nair - How HR drives business value at Unilever
• EP 16: Keith McNulty - HR 3.0: more data driven, more agile and more business focused
• EP 15: Jason Corsello - The Shift From HR Tech to Work Tech
• EP 14: Jill Larsen - How does the CHRO successfully partner with the CEO
• EP 13: Frida Polli - How AI and Behavioural Science can reduce bias in recruiting
• EP 12: Ian O'Keefe - The Workforce Analytics journey at JP Morgan Chase
• EP 11: Dave Ulrich - The role of HR in the Digital Age
• EP 10: Jordan Pettman - How Nestlé uses People Analytics to measure Gender Pay Gap and Equity
• EP 9: Catalina Schveninger - The Evolution of Corporate Learning at Vodafone
• EP 8: Richard Collins - How is Automation, AI and Analytics changing recruiting?
• EP 7: Katarina Berg - Spotify's CHRO on Leading HR in a digital world
• EP 6: Nick Holley - How HR can become more business relevant 
• EP 5: Eden Britt - How to build a People Analytics team in a global organisation | The People Analytics journey at HSBC 
• EP 4: Yvette Cameron - How Blockchain will disrupt the Future of Work and HR Technology 
• EP 3: Didier Elzinga - How to Create a Culture First Company 
• EP 2: Edward Houghton - The Head of Research at the CIPD on Driving Business Performance with People Data 
• EP 1: Sharon Doherty - How to transform HR to be more digital and building a culture of diversity

CHECK OUT THE myHRfuture ACADEMY!

Sign up to the myHRfuture academy and get access to all of our on-demand online training courses from world-leading HR experts that will help you become more knowledgeable in topics such as people analytics and digital HR. All of our online training courses for HR are presented in bitesized learning modules, which means you can learn in your own time and focus on the topics that matter most to you.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David is a globally respected writer, speaker, conference chair, and executive consultant on people analytics, data-driven HR and the future of work. As an Executive Director at Insight222, he helps global organisations create more cultural and economic value through the wise and ethical use of people data and analytics. Prior to joining Insight222 and taking up a board advisor role at TrustSphere, David was the Global Director of People Analytics Solutions at IBM Watson Talent. As such, David has extensive experience in helping organisations embark upon and accelerate their people analytics journeys. 

SEE ME SPEAK AT THESE EVENTS IN 2020

Now that my speaking gigs are over for 2019, it’s time to look forward to 2020. I’ll be chairing and/or speaking about people analytics, data-driven HR and the Nine Dimensions for Excellence in People Analytics model at the following events until the end of May 2020.

• 21-22 Jan - The People Analytics Program Peer Meeting (hosted by Lloyds Banking Group), London (for Insight222 clients only)
• 28 Jan - The People Analytics Program Peer Group Meeting, San Francisco (for Insight222 clients only)
• 29-31 Jan – PAFOW San Francisco
• 4 Feb - The People Analytics Program Peer Group Meeting, New York (for Insight222 clients only)
• 19-21 Feb – Tech HR, Singapore
• 16-17 Mar – HR Core Lab – Leading with Talent Analytics, Barcelona
• 24-25 Mar – UNLEASH Spring, London
• 27 Apr - Employee Experience Summit, Vienna
• 29-30 Apr – PAFOW London