TechTuesDays #3: When Green KPIs Don’t Mean Success

The third edition of TechTuesDays was hosted by AIMTEC a.s., and we would like to thank the entire team not only for the inspiring atmosphere of their unique café space, but also for opening the doors to their modern offices and showroom. The venue perfectly reflected the open and collaborative spirit that defines the TechTuesDays series.

The afternoon focused on a topic that every company deals with: measuring business performance through KPIs. It all started with a simple but provocative question:

If all your KPIs are green, does it mean your company is performing at its best?

According to Pavel Majer from Goldratt CZ, the answer is surprisingly often no.

Drawing on the Theory of Constraints (TOC), Pavel Majer demonstrated through practical exercises why traditional performance metrics can easily lead management to the wrong conclusions.

Participants calculated the profitability of different projects themselves using nothing more than pen and paper. The exercise clearly showed how easy it is to achieve “good” KPIs while still making decisions that reduce the overall performance of the company.

The workshop also built on the previous TechTuesDays session dedicated to Artificial Intelligence. Participants used AI tools introduced during the April event to verify their calculations and compare different approaches. It became clear that AI alone does not make good decisions—but in the hands of people who understand the business context, it becomes a powerful decision-support tool.

The discussion confirmed that the real objective is not to optimise individual metrics, but to optimise the performance of the company as a whole by focusing on its true constraints.

The programme was perfectly complemented by Martin Kraus from AIMTEC, who demonstrated how digital modelling and simulation can help companies validate decisions before implementing them in real operations.

Participants discovered how logistics and manufacturing processes can be simulated, alternative scenarios tested, and business decisions supported by data instead of assumptions. Theoretical concepts were brought to life through practical industrial examples.

Together, Pavel Majer’s strategic perspective and Martin Kraus’s practical demonstrations created a powerful combination, showing that better decisions require not only better metrics, but also the ability to validate their impact before they affect real-world operations.

A special thank you goes to AIMTEC a.s. for being an outstanding host, providing an inspiring venue, and contributing an excellent speaker to the programme. This collaboration perfectly reflects the mission of TechTuesDays—to connect experts, encourage knowledge sharing, and inspire new ways of thinking about the challenges facing today’s business leaders.

We are already looking forward to the next TechTuesDays, where we will continue bringing together leaders, ideas, and practical inspiration that help move companies—and our region—forward.

The second TechTuesDays session, held at Konplan s.r.o., explored artificial intelligence from a management perspective—without the usual hype.

Discussions among around 25 senior participants revealed a key insight:
AI itself is not the main challenge. The real barriers are people, data, and organisational readiness.

Companies most often struggle with a lack of know-how, unprepared data infrastructure, and concerns around data security. At the same time, most are still operating in isolated experiments without a clear AI strategy.

A strong message emerged:
AI is not about incremental improvements, but about identifying where it can enable a step-change in how a company operates.

The practical part of the workshop clearly demonstrated the difference between “AI without context” and “AI with company context”—showing how the latter can complete tasks in minutes that would normally take days.

Once again, TechTuesDays confirmed its purpose:
to create a space for open discussion, shared experience, and practical ways to move companies—and the entire region—forward.

Special thanks go to the guests brought by Dana Vaníčková from the Czech Innovation Platform – Vojta Roček, Tomáš Metz, Martin Glíž, and also to the workshop author Jiří Maňas.

Next meeting takes place on May 26 in Pilsen in AIMTEC a.s.

The next Dedicated Evening (April 8) will explore what happens between the lines.
Together with Tomáš Šebesta from Veriteus Technology, we will look at how AI can detect inconsistencies in real time and what that means for decision-making in business. From insurance to HR and critical infrastructure, AI is becoming a partner that not only analyses but also suggests better questions. Join us to discuss how this technology is reshaping conversations—and the future of business itself.

Veriteus Technology is a Czech AI startup helping companies detect inconsistencies in what people say in real time. The tool works as a decision-support layer: it shows where a statement started to shift and suggests specific follow-up questions. Primarily built for insurance, it is currently exploring applications in HR, as a complement to interviews for key positions, including roles in critical infrastructure.

Tom Šebesta has worked across corporations, startups, and the public sector, always at the intersection of marketing, brand, and sales. Today he guides early-stage companies through incubation at BIC Plzeň, builds the PINE innovation ecosystem, and co-founds AI startup Veriteus.

For invitation please contact Jana Havlíčková, 773 611 197, jana@dare2.cz

TechTuesDays are curated leadership gatherings designed for middle and senior management of manufacturing and technology-driven companies in the Pilsen region. This is not a conference and not another generic networking event. It is a focused platform for open dialogue among people who carry real responsibility for the direction and performance of their companies.

Each session is held in a small-format setting (20–40 participants) and combines an expert keynote on a strategically relevant topic with a practical follow-up from the hosting company. Participants gain both high-level insight and real operational experience. The emphasis is on quality over quantity, structured discussion, and meaningful interaction.

Topics That Truly Matter to Management

The 2026 programme addresses issues that are critical for executive decision-makers:

• 31. 3. 2026 COMTES FHT, Dobřany: Cybersecurity – practical, with perspective (and a bit of humor)
  Cybersecurity is no longer an IT issue. It is a leadership responsibility. We will explore real risks, real incidents, and the balance between reasonable protection and turning your company into a digital fortress where no one can work.

• 28. 4. 2026: AI and Innovation – which phases of digitalisation can you skip?
  Instead of chasing trends, we ask: where can AI, data, and cloud technologies enable a step-change in how your company operates – not just incremental improvements?

• 26.5. 2026: Monitoring KPIs but not seeing results? Maybe you are measuring the wrong numbers.
  Together with experts in the Theory of Constraints, we will identify real bottlenecks and discuss why improving everything often means improving nothing.

• 23. 6. 2026 TechTower: Modern People Management – Stop managing work. Start managing energy.
  Talent management is not an HR initiative; it is a strategic management decision. We focus on identifying key roles, developing the right people, and managing organisational capacity as a system.

Autumn sessions will address future skills and knowledge management.

Why Attend?

TechTuesDays offer more than inspiration. Participants gain:

• access to top-level experts and real-life case studies

• open peer discussions with executives facing similar challenges

• space for strategic reflection beyond daily operations

• stronger connections within a regional leadership community

This is not passive listening. The small-format design ensures active participation, meaningful questions, and genuine exchange.

A Platform Built on Trust

TechTuesDays are organised in cooperation between Technological Initiative Pilsen and Klastr Mechatronika, both long-term builders of a trusted regional ecosystem.

The real value lies in expanding perspectives, uncovering new opportunities, and creating synergies between companies. TechTuesDays are designed to provide exactly that – a space where innovation meets collaboration, and where leadership does not merely follow trends but actively shapes the future of the region.

We recently had the pleasure of visiting SCHERDEL Technické pružiny at their Vysočany site — and it was one of those visits that reminds you why industrial excellence still deserves the spotlight.

The programme covered it all: a clear and insightful company presentation, a deep dive into production, and a tour of the logistics warehouse, showcasing just how much precision, organisation, and know-how is hidden behind components most people never notice.

And then came the creative twist: some of SCHERDEL’s products even found a second life — transformed into original earrings.

Big thanks to the SCHERDEL team for their openness, hospitality, and inspiration.

Visits like this are exactly why sharing know-how across companies and sectors matters.

While the leaves may be turning, our agenda is anything but slowing down. This autumn, TIP members, partners, and friends are coming together for a series of meetings and events designed to spark collaboration and challenge assumptions.

We are kicking off with an evening dedicated to innovation with our first special guest Martin Jiránek on September 10 in Pšenice club.

Martin Jiránek is an entrepreneur and former Member of Parliament with a unique mix of business and policy experience. He co-founded startups (winning CzechEkoSystem 2015) and later served as Vice-Chair of the Economic Committee and Chair of the ICT Subcommittee, driving key reforms in electronic communications. Passionate about entrepreneurs and startups, he focuses on connecting ideas across sectors and creating conditions for innovation to thrive.

Next event to take place this autumn is a company visit our member company – Technické pružiny Scherdel on October 8 followed by an informal dinner meeting.

Our November meeting will take place back in our home club Pšenice, on November 12, and we will be joined by representatives from Fameplay.AI to talk about AI and video.

Informal Meeting with Deputy Governor Martin Rybár in Pšenice (May 14)

In the peaceful setting of the village of Pšenice, Technological Initiative Pilsen recently held another informal meeting—this time with Martin Rybár, Deputy Governor of the Pilsen Region for Innovation.

Over a friendly glass of weissbier, we touched on two key topics that are especially relevant in today’s regional context:

1. Collaboration across and beyond the region

Like many industrial regions in Central Europe, the Pilsen Region is navigating a period of economic transition—particularly in the automotive sector, which has long been its economic backbone. We discussed the importance of connecting with neighboring and peer regions in Europe that face similar challenges, as well as the need for stronger coordination between municipal, regional, and development institutions.

2. The Role of a Regional Innovation Center

The creation of a Regional Innovation Center was also on the agenda. In line with the Czech national RIS3 strategy and the need for economic diversification, such a center could become a critical platform for connecting business, research, and public administration. It would foster new solutions and help drive the region forward.

We thank Deputy Governor Rybář for his openness and willingness to engage in meaningful conversation. Meetings like this show that valuable dialogue between public institutions and the innovation ecosystem can start in the most relaxed of settings—even over weissbier.

When it comes to collaboration towards successful Pilsen region we believe in one thing:

It doesn’t matter who gets the credit – what matters is that good things are happening and we are moving forward.