The first executive exercise

This exercise helps you begin with the business, even if all you know is that you're supposed to do something with AI. It comes before choosing a project. Use the sentences below to describe how you succeed and surface several areas that may deserve attention. Take them one at a time, listen to the people closest to the work, and leave an unknown visible when nobody has a sound answer yet.

Complete these sentences without using the words AI, automation, platform, or digital transformation:

1. Our business wins when we consistently __________.
2. We lose time, money, customers, speed, or trust when __________.
3. The people closest to that problem are __________.
4. We currently know the problem is costly because __________.
5. A meaningful improvement would look like __________.

Repeat the later sentences for the different concerns that emerge. If you can't complete one, you've found something to investigate. Carry those observations into the friction statements and the 5x5 map; keep the possibilities open until you've compared them.