BY MICHAEL FEINDT
Language, mathematics, and the natural sciences form the foundation of learning in school. Yet only one of these is often regarded as ”unnecessary,” ”useless,” or superfluous in adult life. Strangely enough, this applies to the very subject that shapes the business world, its leaders, economies, and our future societies.
Math is still that dubious subject that is viewed with disinterest or disappointment. Many people openly wonder why they ever needed to learn algebra, trigonometry, formulas, or even basic arithmetic—especially now that we have calculators on our phones. When math is pitted against languages and the natural sciences as one of the core subjects in school, many students risk believing that math isn’t relevant to their daily lives. Aside from the benefits of math for one’s personal or a company’s finances, its usefulness is often viewed as limited unless you plan to work in a math-oriented field. That’s how it appears. But more and more industries are now based on engineering, technology, IT, and innovation. Society is increasingly relying on algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI), automation, robotics, and digital innovation. Today, there are very few organizations, transactions, forms of communication, or life events that do not consist of processes derived from mathematics. As the world changes in this direction, we now need to ensure that schoolchildren better understand the value of mathematics.
More than just a school subject
Everywhere we look, there are clear examples of how the world is built on mathematics—increasingly advanced technical education programs, previously unimaginable technical solutions, and scientific breakthroughs. What would the response to the COVID-19 pandemic have looked like if we hadn’t devoted ourselves to science, engineering, economic sustainability, and medical innovation? Mathematics is the foundation of all engineering disciplines and, by extension, the foundation for the development of all industrial sectors today. The myth that needs to be dispelled is the notion that mathematics is merely a school subject and not a vital field for the development of our society. Similarly, we must stop drawing a distinction between mathematics and science the moment students leave school. Just as very few people would claim that they won’t need to know Swedish or another language later in life, we must help schoolchildren build a relationship with mathematics in school and understand that mathematical skills truly matter for their future lives.
Leadership requires knowledge
In some countries, entrepreneurship, business management, or business development are often encouraged over research and development. This seems to free people from the need to understand computer science, statistical significance, or automation. The thinking seems to be: ”Once I’m a manager, I’ll hire others to handle that stuff.” But would this approach be acceptable in any other area of business management? If you’re part of senior management, you’re expected to communicate effectively with more than just a basic knowledge of the Swedish language. Similarly, your company likely relies on math-based processes, making it essential to have more than just a basic understanding of these principles. Because even if, for example, you do not work with software coding yourself, it is likely that the decisions you will make will involve hiring, assigning, and evaluating staff who work as coders. Simply choosing to focus on leadership—or on leadership at the expense of mathematical knowledge—will negatively impact management, especially in a business world that is increasingly built on mathematics and the natural sciences.
Skeptics
So where does AI come into this equation? Well, in the supply chain and in retail, it’s these individuals in corporate leadership who decide when it’s time to invest in AI and machine learning. Because even though most companies are becoming more accurate, precise, and automated in terms of both their inventories and their supply-and-demand processes, there are still far too many decision-makers who doubt the benefits of AI and choose not to invest. Sometimes this skepticism stems from a fixation on their own experiences and capabilities: ”How can a machine possibly know more than an experienced professional?” For others, the hesitation stems from AI’s limitations: ”If we can’t achieve 100% accuracy with AI, we’ll simply wait until it’s possible.”
The Business Benefits of AI
Both of these objections are excellent examples of how basic mathematics can be misunderstood. AI is not a ”silver bullet” that solves everything. But the more data there is, the more accurate the predictions become, and these predictions become more accurate and intelligent than any human brain, regardless of experience. It is my hope that people will not only trust AI as a tool, but that they will also have the knowledge needed to understand and more clearly see the potential business benefits of AI. Of course, the benefits of AI vary from company to company and across different contexts. But in order to take a step back and see the broader possibilities of AI, we need to change how we view mathematics as a subject.
A Boon for Students, Businesses, the Economy, and Society
This is something that needs to start in school, and it needs to start now. Such a development is beneficial for all schoolchildren as they prepare for the world in which they will work. It is positive for the future entrepreneurs and leaders who will shape strategies based on scientific and technical principles, and it is also positive for nations whose economies will depend on the breakthroughs resulting from this knowledge. We now live in a technology-driven world where the goal is to make math the coolest subject in school, which will benefit our entire society.
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Dr. Michael Feindt is one of the world’s leading AI researchers, a professor at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and an expert in AI/ML applications for supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, and retail. In 2008, he founded the AI company Blue Yonder and now serves as a strategic and scientific advisor to the company. The article above was previously published in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and has been translated and published by Supply Chain Effect with permission from the author and the WSJ.
