Design Roles, Not Tasks: AI’s Edge in HR and L&D with Scott Morris
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Jobs don’t fail because people don’t work hard; they fail because the work isn’t designed to move the numbers that matter. That’s the uncomfortable truth we dig into with Scott Morris—longtime Chief People Officer, HR transformer, and founder of Propulsion AI—who makes a compelling case for designing roles around outcomes, not task lists.
Scott shares a fast history lesson on technological disruption—from calculators to spreadsheets to AI—and shows why the safest path is embracing new tools to change where we add value. Rather than fearing replacement, we can use AI to clarify expectations and accelerate the slowest parts of talent work. His framework helps managers define business outcomes first, then layer in key results, success measures, competencies, and skills. The payoff is visible across the talent lifecycle: recruiters source to impact, candidates self-select with eyes open, and trainers build programs that correlate to movement in KPIs like DSO, eNPS, conversion, and churn. Even “entry-level” roles transform when reframed from “push buttons” to “create experiences that drive loyalty,” unlocking better interviews, stronger motivation, and clearer coaching moments.
If you’re ready to make work more human and more effective, subscribe, share this with your HR and L&D peers, and leave a review with the one outcome you’ll measure differently this quarter.
Meet the Host
Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact [email protected] or connect below!
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/
Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com
Chapters
1. Design Roles, Not Tasks: AI’s Edge in HR and L&D with Scott Morris (00:00:00)
2. Meet Scott Morris & Theme (00:01:16)
3. L&D Mindset at the Top of HR (00:02:50)
4. Balancing Compliance and Business Impact (00:05:06)
5. History Lessons: Tech Fear to Value Shift (00:06:58)
6. Training ROI and Kirkpatrick Level 4 (00:07:49)
7. From Tasks to Outcomes in Job Design (00:11:06)
8. AI as Augmenter, Not Replacer (00:11:26)
9. Propulsion AI’s Role Design Framework (00:12:41)
10. KPIs That Matter: Move the Number (00:13:56)
11. Outcome-Based Coaching and Autonomy (00:17:57)
12. L&D Beyond Technical Skills (00:21:17)
13. Burger King Example: Experience Over Tasks (00:21:17)
14. Fixing the JD–Onboarding Disconnect (00:23:40)
15. Speeding Role Design to Cut Hiring Waste (00:24:49)
16. Anchoring ROI and Salary to Business Results (00:26:09)
17. Performance Reviews Built on OKRs (00:28:47)
18. Managing to Results and Behaviors (00:31:53)
19. Clear Outcomes Beat Activity Metrics (00:35:39)
20. How to Try Propulsion AI Free (00:37:21)
64 episodes