Is Your AI Rollout Built to Fail?
Show notes
Kristy Ellmer and Julia Dhar, co-authors of How Change Really Works and founders of BCG’s Behavioral Science Lab, explain why so many transformations fail and what the science says separates success from failure. They break down the “messy middle,” why people resist being changed rather than change itself, and how giving employees real agency turns resistance into momentum.
What You’ll Learn:
Why “false alignment” among leaders, not resistance from employees, derails most transformations before they start.
Why giving employees real ownership, not just participation, turns resistance into momentum.
What makes AI transformations distinct from other kinds of organizational change
Learn More:
Read How Change Really Works: https://on.bcg.com/3SpBPzd
Your AI Change Is Actually a People Change: https://on.bcg.com/3RKUp4J
The False Alignment Trap: https://on.bcg.com/45R9ULH
CEOs Are Betting Big on AI Transformations. Science Is How They Win: https://on.bcg.com/4bGy1jG
We Found the Real Reason 70% of Transformations Fail: https://on.bcg.com/4xqmOMq
Chapters
(0:00) What Is Transformation?
(1:54) Why Leaders Need a New Playbook for Change
(3:42) Where Do Most Transformations Fail?
(5:37) What Does the “Messy Middle” Look Like?
(6:28) What Makes AI Transformations Different?
(9:25) Where Is the "End Point" in an AI Transformation?
(11:51) Why “Just Get on the Bus” Isn’t Good Advice for AI Change
(13:03) When to Walk Away from a Change Effort
(15:42) What Should Leaders Do When Momentum Fades?
(16:49) Why Giving Employees Ownership Matters
(21:06) What Should Leaders Do in the “Messy Middle”?
(22:37) How Do You Make Change Successful?
Meet the Experts
Kristy Ellmer: https://on.bcg.com/4xvpgBg
Co-Author, How Change Really Works
BCG Managing Director & Partner
North American Leader, BCG’s Transform Practice
Co-Founder, BCG’s Behavioral Science Lab:
Julia Dhar: https://on.bcg.com/45ec8Vj
Co-Author, How Change Really Works
BCG Managing Director & Partner
North American Leader, People and Organization Practice
Co-Founder, BCG’s Behavioral Science Lab: https://on.bcg.com/4z9WhVs
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