Making innovation operational.
Exploring emerging technology with the people and departments that could put it to use.
Director, Technical Innovation, BlueLabs · Contract
The setting
BlueLabs explores new ideas and technologies within KLM. My role connected that experimentation with digital transformation and the practical needs of operational and commercial departments.
The question behind the work
An experiment needs a useful problem, engaged colleagues and a path to ownership. Work in one department can also have value elsewhere, making cross-departmental awareness an important part of innovation.
What I did
- Worked with departments to explore and test technical ideas.
- Connected experiments with departmental strategy and commitment.
- Brought external expertise into the innovation process.
- Supported awareness of experiments across organisational boundaries.
- Advanced Slack Enterprise Grid through application integration and workflow automation to improve developer productivity, including a custom-app strategy for flight and ground operations.
Exploring a faster path into service.
At KLM Blue Labs, we worked on a digital twin project aimed at speeding up the A321neo’s entry into service. A technical deep dive with Epic formed part of that work.
“His technical knowledge is broad, and he can discuss many topics in detail, making him the go-to person for solving problems and coming up with new ideas.”
Read full recommendation from Volkert Paap
I had the pleasure of working with Karl Nicholson, and I can confidently say that he is a very skilled professional in information technology. I especially enjoyed his unique views on problems we had to solve. Karl’s expertise in changing old systems to digital ones is clear from his successful work with companies like KLM. His technical knowledge is broad, and he can discuss many topics in detail, making him the go-to person for solving problems and coming up with new ideas. Karl is energetic, trustworthy, and committed to helping his team do their best. He works well with others and creates a friendly and inclusive environment. His positive influence goes beyond his technical skills. Karl is great with people and makes the workplace positive and motivating. His passion for technology and his drive to make a positive impact are truly inspiring. If your company wants to successfully introduce Slack, Karl is the person to call. His vision, technical skills, and strong work ethic make him a valuable asset to any organization. His status as a Fellow of the British Computer Society (FBCS) shows his expertise and contributions to the IT community. I highly recommend Karl Nicholson for any transformation role in the IT sector. His exceptional qualities, strategic insight, and technical skills make him a valuable professional who will continue to achieve great succes
What this chapter brings together
Technology strategy, practical experimentation, cross-departmental collaboration and enterprise integration.
Ideas, experiments and integration.
For a related perspective on organisational alignment, see my writing on shared direction and ownership.
Read the alignment article →