Why you should not develop an AI strategy

Why you should not develop an AI strategy

You do not have an AI strategy yet? High time you did, right? Before you begin, though, I invite you to consider why developing an AI strategy may not make sense.

Every year brings new topics and trends. Sustainability calls for a sustainability strategy, skills shortages for a new workforce security strategy, digitalisation for a digital strategy, modern corporate communication for a social media strategy. Then there are marketing, sales, development, e-commerce, production, IT and HR strategies. Strategies for absolutely everything, wherever you look. No wonder corporate strategy has acquired a reputation for not being worth the slides on which expensive consultants have made it shine. All too often, it fades beautifully there instead of being implemented.

AI strategy: must-have or nice-to-have?

Investing in artificial intelligence is undoubtedly ONE OF the most important questions companies must address today.

But AI is not an end in itself! We would do better to proceed systematically, one step at a time:

Set clear goals and describe the strategy architecture in a shared picture of the future

Once the company’s goals are defined, its strategy architecture takes shape. Beyond the corporate strategy, are subsidiary strategies needed—and if so, which ones? Developing strategies described through a clear picture of the future shows how corporate goals can be achieved, with or without AI.

Reflect on how to use AI

So how does AI fit into your company’s bigger picture? How can AI be integrated meaningfully into corporate strategy? Is a separate AI strategy really necessary, or should AI be treated as an integral part of corporate strategy? AI may instead play a supporting role in implementing your strategy or strategies.

Conclusion

Let us avoid being dazzled by the latest technology and following the familiar consulting calls for the next “must-have strategy”. An AI strategy sounds tempting, but it is not necessarily the best solution.

Less artificial and all the more intelligent would be to consider updating the company’s overall strategy. In doing so, we should clarify its strategy architecture and reflect appropriately on the meaningful use of AI within it. Before setting out to develop an AI strategy, let us make sure it actually fits our corporate goals.

How do you see AI and corporate strategy: a match made in heaven or overhyped? Share your opinion in the comments. I am curious to hear it.

Are you wondering how to sharpen your strategy architecture and what role AI could play? Would you like clarity about your organisation’s long-term direction? Perhaps you would welcome professional support with a strategy update. Feel free to contact me without obligation. I would be delighted to hear from you.