HR’s Guide to Scaling Microsoft 365 Copilot

Many organizations treat scaling Microsoft 365 Copilot as a technology deployment and struggle to scale effectively. Without intentional pilot design, strong HR partnership, and human-centric support initiatives, adoption remains localized and AI maturity stalls.

Need Extra Help?
Speak With An Analyst.

Get on-demand project support
Get advice, coaching, and insight at key project milestones
Go through a Guided Implementation to help you get through your project

Book Analyst Call

Our Advice

Critical Insight

Use of AI alone does not improve outcomes. Organizations realize value from Microsoft 365 Copilot when scalable adoption is guided by clear strategy, governance, trust, and redesigned ways of working. Building these foundations increases engagement while reducing burnout. This is HR’s mandate.

Impact and Result

A practical roadmap and operating model that positions HR as a codriver of transformation alongside cross-functional leaders, including IT, with defined ownership for the people, culture, and governance conditions that sustain and compound value.

HR’s Guide to Scaling Microsoft 365 Copilot Research & Tools

1. Building the foundation

Align strategy, governance, risk, and investment before designing the pilot.

2. Designing the pilot

Translate strategy into an executable, human-centric pilot that is ready to scale.

3. Scaling with intention

Execute the pilot, learn from outcomes, and scale sustainably.

About McLean & Company

McLean & Company is an HR research and advisory firm providing practical solutions to human resources challenges via executable research, tools, diagnostics, and advisory services that have a clear and measurable impact on your business.

What Is a Blueprint?

A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your HR problems.

Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.

Need Extra Help?
Speak With An Analyst

Get the help you need in this 5-phase advisory process. You'll receive multiple touchpoints with our researchers, all included in your membership.

Guided Implementation 1: Build the Roadmap and Scaling Strategy

Call 1: Identify key individuals and establish a cross-functional steering committee. Review organizational goals, value drivers, and cross-functional ownership.
Call 2: Align on the strategic role Microsoft 365 Copilot will play in advancing AI maturity.
Call 3: Develop responsible AI guardrails and discuss broader AI governance considerations.

Guided Implementation 2: Assess AI Maturity and Identify Human-Centric AI Initiatives

Call 1: Explore AI dimensions and their relation to AI maturity. Assess AI maturity and set target maturity for each component.
Call 2: Describe the gaps and develop human-centric AI initiatives that support scaling.

Guided Implementation 3: Identify and Prioritize Use Cases

Call 1: Brainstorm ideas for Microsoft 365 Copilot use cases. Review the organization’s capability map to help brainstorm potential use cases.
Call 2: Assess candidate use cases based on business value, risk, readiness, and feasibility.
Call 3: Prioritize use cases that drive business value and advance AI maturity.

Guided Implementation 4: Design the Microsoft 365 Copilot Pilot

Call 1: Identify key players, establish a CoE and change network, and select pilot participants.
Call 2: Design the pilot to inform scaling decisions. Understand the impact on pilot participants and enable human-centric conditions to drive adoption.
Call 3: Define data and governance requirements and set up tracking signals. Establish feedback loops and escalation paths to support pilot execution.

Guided Implementation 5: Evaluate Pilot Outcomes and Scale Sustainably

Call 1: Analyze feedback and adjust the pilot in real time using signals. Prepare inputs into scaling decisions.
Call 2: Operate and govern Microsoft 365 Copilot scaling conditions. Establish a continuous cycle to iterate and drive sustained transformation.
Call 3: Embed Microsoft 365 Copilot into the HR ecosystem.
Call 4: Determine next steps.

Contributors

Christine West, Senior Managing Partner, Info-Tech Research Group
Devan Dewey, CTO, NEPC, LLC
Elizabeth Smith, Executive Counselor, Info-Tech Research Group
John Donovan, Principal Research Director, Info-Tech Research Group
Kim Osborne, Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives (Digital Strategy), Ontario Power Generation
Mahmoud Ramin, Senior Research Analyst, Info-Tech Research Group
Matt Burton, Principal Advisory Director, Info-Tech Research Group
Niall McKeown, CEO, Ionology
Sara Ehtasham, HRBP & L&D Partner/AI Adoption & Change Manager, Telenor Global Shared Services
Siobhan Calderbank, Vice President Talent and Performance, Element Fleet Management
7 Anonymous contributors