$10,000 mistakes and how to fix them
A $10,000 mistake
A few weeks ago while meeting with a client, we walked him through our custom analytics and showed him the biggest knowledge gaps that our platform identified across his teams. Suddenly he sat up a little straighter and leaned in. “Every time we get that wrong, that’s a $10,000 violation,” he said. And unfortunately, Blank Slate’s analytics suggested that many of his employees were at risk of making that mistake.
Like his employees, most Blank Slate users operate in high-stakes environments such as law enforcement, airport security and operations, and datacenter security. In these contexts, knowledge gaps can have steep consequences, from financial loss to loss of life.
Getting everyone up to speed
To mitigate the risk associated with knowledge gaps, organizations need to bring everyone up to the same knowledge levels. But figuring out the best way to do that has been a challenge since the dawn of organized labor.
People enter workplaces with different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. Yet, the status quo for employee training is to assign a one-size-fits-all annual program. This can be frustrating and inefficient for people who are already up to speed, and it may not provide enough support for people who aren’t. And regardless of people’s backgrounds, reviewing their training once or twice a year likely won’t keep their knowledge levels high year round.
Blank Slate solves these two problems at once. Our AI-driven app adapts to address each person’s knowledge pain-points, quickly learning what they don’t know and intervening to reinforce deficiencies. And through this process, the app engages people year round for brief weekly sessions.
To illustrate, consider two new-hire security guards, Brad and Jen. Brad uses Blank Slate for five minutes a week because he is fresh out of school and has limited experience, while Jen uses Blank Slate for two minutes a week because she’s worked in the field for 20 years and has high starting knowledge levels. With Blank Slate, both Brad and Jen will reach 100% knowledge levels quickly and stay there year round.
The result is twofold. First, time was saved — no one had to spend a whole shift watching training videos. Second, operational improvements were achieved — both employees are exponentially more likely to be able to apply their training quickly and accurately, reducing human performance related mistakes on the job.
What it looks like to get everyone up to speed
The story of Brad and Jen isn’t hypothetical, Blank Slate helps our clients achieve these results every week. Here’s one recent example.
A few months ago, a client assigned 10 security guards some dialed-in content about how to scrutinize the credentials of guards from outside government agencies. The client wanted to keep the time burden light for these busy employees, so the guards spent just two minutes, twice a week refreshing their knowledge.
As you can see in the chart below, there were big differences in guards’ knowledge levels on their first day of app use, with seven out of 10 scoring 50% or lower on information that was critical to their success on the job. But after just two weeks of very light app use, everyone was up over 60%. And they only got better from there.
The cost of knowledge gaps can be staggering, as our client’s experience demonstrates. And in high-stakes fields, even a small gap can have outsized impacts on people, property, and public trust. Blank Slate is designed to close these gaps efficiently and proactively, ensuring that everyone from new hires to seasoned professionals has the knowledge they need, right when they need it. Whether it’s a $10,000 mistake or a matter of safety, we’re here to help companies close knowledge gaps and minimize risk.
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Amy Smith, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer, Blank Slate Technologies
