A new paradigm for tech
For a long time, we’ve relied on governments and regulations to protect us from harmful impacts of industry and technology. But in our digital world, technology is changing so rapidly that waiting for governments to put policies in place isn’t good enough. A case in point is that here in Canada, regulators are still in the process of drafting laws and regulations designed to govern the responsible use of data and technologies like AI.
For many observers, what’s needed is a new paradigm for thinking about how we adopt technology in our environments. Bringing forward the commitment to natural stewardship pioneered by Rachel Carson, people who think about ethics and business in the digital world advocate a stronger role for considering ethical and social responsibility. The idea is to support everyday, future-oriented practices to ensure that technology is used to make the world a better place for everyone.
Canadians leading the way
Canada has been a leader when it comes to thinking about data and technology stewardship. In fact, the idea of technological stewardship was originally put forward by the Engineering Change Lab (ECL) in collaboration with Engineers Canada, Engineers Without Borders and with different academic and public sector partners.
The business case for stewardship
You might think such a broad approach to data and technology is outside the scope of business. But businesses not only rely on data and technology to sell products, they also need them to build relationships with people. Strong relationships are built on trust, and include things like ethics, transparency, and values. That’s where data stewardship is different from a simple focus on governance and management. Being a good data and tech steward means being proactive, and thinking about the downstream consequences of how we use tech—especially its impacts on people, customers, and communities.
The recent pandemic exposed challenges with data and raised concerns about privacy, confidentiality, and trust. More public services migrated online, leading to fears about the safety of personal data. While the scope of these and other issues may have been unprecedented, a more robust commitment to stewardship can help us foresee and address such negative outcomes—which is critical for business going forward.
Philosophy of data and tech stewardship
Like any new approach to how people do things in the world, data and technology stewardship comes with a philosophy. Broadly speaking, it seeks to bring new people into the conversation about technology. By focusing on diversity and dialogue, data and technology stewardship can help tech engineers better understand the impacts that tech and data have on people from diverse groups, including many who have been excluded from how data systems and technology are designed and implemented.
Technology stewards push for change, but they also advocate for more long-term and holistic thinking about how technology is adopted. Tech stewardship aims to ensure that organizations and people understand the nature of technology and have the ability to steward it responsibly.
Can it work for my organization?
At first glance, it might seem that implementing tech stewardship in your organization is too much of a challenge. After all, who is responsible for data stewardship at the business level? Does it require hiring a new person for a new role without clear guidelines and responsibilities? What resources are there for building stewardship where you work?
The simple answer is that technology stewardship begins with you and includes everyone on your team and in your organization. The idea of stewardship means showing leadership, being proactive, and taking responsibility for positive change. It means driving conversations about technology that are larger and more inclusive. That’s a good thing for business, and a great thing for the world we live and work in.
Principles of technology stewardship
The people over at the Engineering Change Lab are not only responsible for developing the idea of technology stewardship, they have also made a set of technology stewardship principles available online. The principles reflect the platform’s commitment to driving social innovation built on collaboration.
Upskill for change
Your efforts will build agility, diversity, and resilience in your organization. To make sure that teams are at the leading edge of thinking about tech, it’s critical to invest in upskilling to ensure that people have both the skills and mindsets to bring technology stewardship principles to the workplace. To find out more about upskilling opportunities where you live, check out Upskill Canada, driven by Palette Skills.
