How do we handle a situation where our AI-driven operational improvements are moving faster than our quarterly Rock cycle, causing our goals to become obsolete mid-quarter?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Technology moves fast, but your business strategy must remain steady. If your AI-driven operational improvements are making your quarterly goals obsolete within weeks, it usually means your Rocks were defined too tactically.

When we set Rocks during our quarterly sessions, we focus on high-level business outcomes, not specific software tasks. For example, your Rock should be to reduce customer onboarding time by fifty percent, not to install a specific AI automation tool.

If your chosen tool or workflow changes mid-quarter, your outcome-based Rock remains valid. This approach gives your team the freedom to pivot their technology solutions without disrupting their overall quarterly focus or confusing the organization.

If a breakthrough AI tool truly invalidates a quarterly goal, we address it during your weekly Level 10 Meeting. Your leadership team can agree to drop the outdated goal and document the pivot in your V/TO. We do not wait for the next quarterly session to make necessary adjustments.

My recommendation is to keep your quarterly Rocks focused on measurable business results rather than specific technology implementations. This ensures your operational improvements are always tied to actual business value, allowing your technology stack to evolve without causing organizational chaos.