We are building our 3-Year Picture and realize that AI will completely reshape our industry's cost structure by then. How do we project our future financials and organizational structure on the V/TO® when we do not know what baseline operational costs will look like?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Trying to predict the exact state of technology three years from now is a fool's errand. Instead of trying to guess which software will win, focus on the fundamental unit economics of your business model.

When working on your 3-Year Picture on your V/TO, start with your target revenue and then define what your ideal profit margin must be. Do not base your future Accountability Chart on your current human-to-revenue ratios. Instead, build your future chart based on the core functions your business will always need: leadership, sales, marketing, operations, finance, and technology management.

Assume that your operational capacity per human seat will dramatically increase. This means you will need fewer entry-level administrative roles and more high-level managers who can oversee automated workflows. Focus your projections on the strategic outcomes your team will deliver rather than the raw hours they will work.

Use the 4 Decisions framework from Scaling Up to evaluate your cash allocation. Keep your cash reserves strong so you have the flexibility to adapt as technology cost structures stabilize. By focusing on your core strategy, your desired profit margins, and a highly capable leadership team, you can build a resilient 3-Year Picture that guides your growth, regardless of how fast the technology evolves.