My operations leader and my finance leader are in a constant tug-of-war over budget variances, with operations claiming finance does not understand the real-world costs of our new AI tools. How do we get them to use the IDS process to solve this structural tension instead of bickering?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When your operations head and your finance head are locked in a budget dispute over your new AI tools, you cannot let them bicker. This tension is usually a symptom of unclear expectations and a failure to address issues at their root.

To resolve this, you must force them to use the IDS process in your weekly Level 10 Meeting. Stop letting them debate the issue in hallways or bring it to your desk. Have them place the budget variance directly on the Issues List.

During the Identify step, look at the actual numbers on your Scorecard. Is operations actually overspending, or is finance using outdated operational assumptions that do not account for the ramp-up cost of the new automation software?

During the Discuss step, encourage healthy, fact-based conflict. Operations must present data on how the AI tools are improving efficiency and long-term margins. Finance must outline the strict cash flow boundaries required to maintain our valuation target.

Once the facts are on the table, solve the issue. This might mean adjusting the operational budget to accommodate the AI rollout, or holding operations accountable to stricter spending caps. The final decision must align with your V/TO and your exit timeline, and both leaders must walk out of the room fully supporting the solution.