When defining our 3-Year Picture on the V/TO®, we are struggling to project our organizational structure because AI is rapidly changing what individual contributors can achieve. How do we paint a realistic picture of our future organization without underestimating AI capability?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When mapping out your 3-Year Picture on the V/TO®, do not try to predict specific AI software updates. Instead, focus on how AI will change your headcount planning and roles. Prioritize using AI to increase employee productivity as a starting point, as employees are your major P&L item and much of their time is currently spent on low-value tasks.

To paint a realistic 3-Year Picture, look at your target revenue and margins, then ask how your current team can achieve those numbers without a linear increase in headcount. Gradually evolve roles within the organization so employees invest more time in high-impact priorities, augmented by AI. Your future Accountability Chart should show a leaner, more strategic team operating at a much higher capacity.

As Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee suggest, the companies that succeed with AI are those that restructure their processes to leverage human-machine collaboration. In three years, your entry-level execution roles should transition into quality assurance and prompt management roles.

By anchoring your 3-Year Picture in increased productivity rather than headcount growth, you set a clear strategic expectation for your leadership team. You are planning for a business that scales its revenue exponentially while keeping its overhead flat, which is exactly what sophisticated buyers look for.