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Rabat – With numerous world-changing events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, students and employers are all adapting to an evolving world.
As part of the activities of its 22nd Entreprise and Laureate Forum, the National School for Business and Management (ENCG) Settat held panels gathering several academics and business leaders to discuss how paradigm shifters like COVID and artificial intelligence are changing the business world.
The forum is held under the theme: “Which management for the new VUCA normality?”
VUCA refers to a world – especially post the COVID-19 pandemic – that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.
The effect of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had immense effects on global supply and communication chains, as highlighted by some of the event’s speakers, especially those who had to adapt their businesses to the harsh realities of an increasingly isolated world.
Executive Director of Human Capital in the Marjane Group, Taha Benzekri, recounted how his own company had to adapt, recalling how one employee had the idea to install plexiglass barriers to protect customers and workers.
He also noted how the Moroccan retail giant obtained face masks – which were in low supply – in a creative way, ordering them from their textile manufacturers.
Benzekri attributed this approach to humans’ “collective intelligence,” stating that it was tested by the pandemic. “We humans are motivated by the instinct to live, which mobilizes us,” he said.
The comments came during the event’s first panel, entitled: “Contours and concrete manifestations of a new ‘normal’,” which also featured Head of Consulting at LMS Business Consulting Reda Massoudi.
Massoudi detailed that COVID-19 exacerbated positive things in Morocco’s – and the world’s – business and government structures, as well as fragilities in the system.
“Our public administrators proved they possessed great agility and a capacity for digitization,” he said, recalling that they showed “a great amount of agility and flexibility.”
That flexibility and agility will prove essential for businesses and organizations that have managed to survive the pandemic’s shock, as they will have to adapt again in the case of other great impacts to the global system.
The rise of AI
Another topic that dominated the panels was the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and related programs, which are now being discussed as legitimate business tools in light of the rapid advancement in their sophistication.
The consensus among the panelists was that while AI is getting more sophisticated, it is not yet capable of competing with humans for their jobs.
“No technology can completely deal with human complexity,” Professor Abderrahim Choufai said, stressing that humans will always have a role to play in different industries.
Entrepreneur Reda Taleb echoed similar sentiments, saying that rather than the capabilities of the AI themselves, it will be down to human ability to use it effectively that determines how useful it is for business.
“AI will not take your job, but someone using AI will take your job,” he said.
OpenAI recently unveiled the new version of its massively popular chatbot ChatGPT, which has shown increased aptitude in tests such as the SATs and bar exams.
The software has been recently gaining steam among students and employers to generate content, templates, and conduct research, stoking fears among some that it could eventually threaten white-collar jobs.
More recently, Microsoft announced the integration of ChatGPT in its Office suite, which has proved popular with students and companies from around the world.
Despite this, the speakers remain confident that you cannot completely discount human contribution in all domains.
The panel’s moderator Omar Benaini said that “human intelligence and artificial intelligence must co-exist,” recalling how some companies implemented new jobs that deal with facilitating the implementation of AI with their human talents.
Enterprise and Laureate Forum
ENCG Settat held its 22nd Enterprise and Laureate Forum on Tuesday.
The annual event, in addition to gathering business leaders to discuss important thematic topics such as the ones from this year, aims to connect students who are looking for internships and work with potential employers.
The event includes a fair where students can meet the university’s partners and participate in interviews or apply for positions, serving to facilitate the entry of the upcoming generation of young graduates into the workforce.
Read Also: Is Being an AI Engineer A Good Career Choice in Morocco?
