We are setting our 3-Year Picture on the V/TO, but our leadership team cannot agree on how AI will change our revenue-per-employee targets. How do we set realistic, concrete multi-year goals when technology shifts every quarter?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Setting a 3-Year Picture™ on your V/TO® when technology shifts quarterly feels like aiming at a moving target. However, your strategic planning should not focus on specific software versions. It must focus on your core operational capacity, margin targets, and the value you deliver to clients.

To project your future business model, look at how AI increases employee productivity. Experts like Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee demonstrate that AI changes how organizations scale by decoupling headcount from revenue growth. Use this concept to model your 3-Year Picture™ with flat or slowly growing headcount but significantly higher revenue targets.

Instead of predicting the exact AI tools you will use in three years, focus on the roles on your Accountability Chart. Determine how much low-value administrative work can be automated, allowing your team to focus on high-impact strategic priorities. Project a margin expansion that reflects this increased efficiency.

By anchoring your 3-Year Picture™ on organizational capability and revenue-per-employee rather than specific technology roadmaps, you build a resilient strategy. This gives your leadership team a clear direction to execute daily operations while leaving the tactical implementation of new AI software to your quarterly Rocks.