Why People Beat Plans: Investing in Human Potential

Invest in people alongside AI: cultivate your team's decision-making ability for successful software development in the AI era

Mar 24, 2026 10m 2s

John Frankel

Expert Insights

John Frankel emphasizes the central role of human decision-making in AI-assisted software development. While AI plays a transformative role in reshaping the software development landscape, he argues that the core success factor remains the quality of people within the team making countless small decisions. These decisions define the trajectory of a project more than sheer technological prowess or market timing.

John insists that businesses should focus on integrating AI technologies, but shouldn't lose sight of nurturing and investing in their teams. He emphasizes the role of skillful and patient human guidance, despite the rapid transitions driven by evolving AI technologies.

Here are the key insights into his perspective:

The success of transitioning to AI-assisted software development hinges on the collective decision-making made by the team rather than solely on the technology.
A commitment to human capital and understanding the dynamics of the team decision-making process is crucial while integrating AI technologies into existing workflows.
Future AI-assisted businesses need to evenly balance their focus between adopting cutting-edge technologies and investing in their teams.
It's the extraordinary individuals who are best placed to navigate through the challenges and opportunities posed by AI-assisted software development.
Adopting AI technologies is inevitable for business growth but it's the human-led decision-making that ultimately dictates the value and success of such investments.

It is all people. There's nothing without people. Think about it this way. When you invest in a public market stock, you have probably two decisions. Price, you enter price, you exit, right? Those are your two decisions. Do I buy, do I sell? And then the company does whatever, but you have that ability. In private markets, you have the decisions around when you buy and then when you exit is really not your control. The defining aspect of the value within there is you can't control by saying, ah, I think things are going wrong. I'm gonna sell my GE, I'm gonna sell my Apple, or whatever it is. Right? You just, it's buy and hold. It's the ultimate buy and hold. So the real decisions come on are the millions of decisions that the CEO and the team make along the way. But if you think about it, the biggest you control for are the people making those millions of decisions. So it's the quality of the team and the decision they make. And so the idea may pivot, the idea may expand the idea may stay the same over time, but it's the team that you're backing ultimately.

Monterail Team Analysis

Here are some actionable insights to software development teams embarking on or further integrating AI-assisted workflows:

Prioritize human capital: Stemming from the belief that it's people that "beat plans," investing in team development, skills training, and a positive work environment is crucial. This prioritization should be part of your strategy in parallel to adopting AI technology.
Foster insightful decision-making: Encourage independent thought and decision-making within teams, cultivating a culture that values smaller, day-to-day decisions that can have enormous cumulative impact on projects.
Embrace adaptability: In a landscape transformed by AI, be open to changing ideas, pivoting plans, and expanding the initial scope of your project. Adaptability is key to navigating unpredictability in AI-assistant software development.
Leverage AI for operational effectiveness: Utilize AI technology to drive profitability and efficiency, but remember that the successful adoption of this technology relies greatly on how well your team navigates the change.
Balance technology and team: Remember not to lose sight of the people building and implementing the technology as you integrate AI components into the workflow. Balance your focus between advanced technology adoption and investing time in your team.
Dive into the unknown: Don't shy away from trying unproven technologies or methodologies. John’s example of successful drone delivery shows that uncertainty can lead to breakthroughs when combined with astute leadership and a prepared and adaptable team.