The environment is changing, and organizations must change with it — a phrase we’ve all heard countless times. But what is truly the greatest challenge in business management? Can established companies undergo digital transformation?
In The Art of War, Sun Tzu said that the most important affairs of a state are rituals and warfare. So, what are the most important matters for running a business? In the short term, it is profitability and liquidity; in the long term, it is ensuring sustainable operations. Balancing long-term goals while allocating resources is one of the most critical tasks for business leaders.
The era of artificial intelligence has reshaped the playing field for all of us. This new game is not defined by machines imitating human actions, but by the rise of new kinds of companies — those that leverage AI in more sophisticated ways to break free from the limitations of traditional operating models, creating new value, driving innovation, and fueling growth. The new rules of the AI era include:
- Change is no longer localized, but systemic.
- Organizational capabilities must span across departments and be universally applicable.
- Traditional industry boundaries are fading, with reorganization becoming the norm.
- A shift from constrained operating models to the impact of frictionless systems.
- Intensifying issues of centralization and inequality.
In the face of these uncertainties, how should companies respond? With greater agility and flexibility.
The AI era brings with it a clear mission:
we must find smarter ways to lead increasingly digital organizations.
While seizing more opportunities,
we must also develop better methods to manage the new assets and functions our organizations continually create and deploy.
The concrete missions include:
- Digital transformation
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- Governance and accountability
- Community development
These are both opportunities and challenges.
The road ahead is long and demanding,
but by working together, we can achieve success.
