Linking strategy with AI

Like with normal strategy work you need to start with the actual business target towards with you company is aiming to proceed. This connection could sound obvious and maybe even too self-evident, but it is often forgotten in cases where main objective becomes just finding use for AI within the problem domain. Converting the question setting and starting with need before solution is crucial for success of an AI strategy.

Before starting it might be good to clarify both digital and AI maturity levels of the company, if there is no clear view to those. This will reveal the transformation capability of the company and recognize in advance the potential bottlenecks to be avoided while defining the AI strategy. It will set the management team also into better position to evaluate the true potential of AI for company in relation to the business targets and organizational capabilities including data assets and available resourcing.

Locate the pain points and establish business case for solving it

Business related pain points are typically already connected to normal strategy work. These pinpoint the weaknesses or development opportunities identified during strategy work. Some of these pain points could find their cure from utilization of AI, but remember not establish artificial connections between problem and solution. You also need to consider availability of needed building blocks, which are presented later in more detail.

Create equal level of understanding and gain management commitment

Management has to stand behind AI strategy as it is companywide initiative, not just an separate activity within one department. Department level or other small scale local initiatives rarely lead into strategic level benefits and thus the potential results are also usually left into tactical level.

Adequate resourcing needs to be secured for strategic level initiatives. This means both adequate budget, human resources and focus of people. Like any other must-win-battle delivering for strategic target, also AI initiatives full filling AI strategy need the structure supporting delivery and needed attention in order to stay alive.

Management team need to understand what AI strategy is aiming for and what are the potential benefits of it. To secure realistic tone of voice it is also important for management team to understand the potential limitation of desired AI strategy.

Raising the awareness of AI strategy by aligning culture and establish priorities for action

Without priorities AI strategy will disappear into some corner of the organization or create complete mess of separate activities competing of limited resources and attention of the management.

Another dimension is the desirability of AI strategy. Especially business stakeholders and also IT organization has to have incentive to support AI strategy.

While management team is aiming for solid AI strategy, it requires from them completely new way of thinking and innovating around data sources and other relevant building blocks of AI strategy. This often can impact also into organizational culture and the structures of organization.