From Deming to Digital Co-Workers: Building AI-Ready NetOps Teams by Scott Robohn

Scott Robon, CEO and Founder at Solutional and Co-Founder of AutoCon, looks at the people and leadership side of AI-era network operations. Drawing on Deming’s principles (systems thinking, continuous improvement, leadership responsibility) and lessons from DevOps, he introduces a “Total Network Operations” lens: see networks as a connected system (workflows, tooling, infra, data), define workflows first, then automate/orchestrate, and lead teams through resistance with communication, psychological safety, and small-batch experiments. The aim: leaders actively guide change, not get run over by it..

What You’ll Learn:
Deming for NetOps: How systems thinking, small iterations, and leadership accountability apply to AI-era networking.
Total Network Operations: A holistic framework tying infrastructure, observability, automation/orchestration, security, and business goals.
Workflow first → automation next: Why documenting/standardizing processes precedes effective automation—and how repeatability changes what’s possible.
Leading through disruption: Practical ways to handle resistance, skill up teams, pilot AI (LLMs/MCP), and communicate vision so ops “drives the steamroller,” not the road.

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