Current and Future Uses of Generative AI in the Practice of Strategic Management

Purpose of Survey

Generative AI has rapidly evolved in 2024 from an emerging technology to a strategic imperative for organizations across industries. A year after executing the initial round of input into the survey, adoption has accelerated as businesses recognize generative AI's potential to empower decision-making to become a Strategy Co-Pilot and unleash employee creativity is at the core. Organizations are having to develop a Strategy for AI to manage ethical, privacy, intellectual property, governance, legal and other implications.

The International Association for Strategy Professionals Australia Chapter (IASPA) in collaboration with LBL Strategies, iLearning Solutions, Baldrige Foundation, Army Strategist Association, and Transformativ are conducting further research to identify current and future uses of Generative AI. This research aims to support organizational success in the practice of strategic management and the development of effective AI strategies.

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, chat responses, designs, or synthetic data. Generative AI models learn the patterns and structure of their input training data by applying neural network machine learning techniques, and then generate new data that has similar characteristics. Notable generative AI systems include ChatGPT, a chatbot built by OpenAI using their GPT-4, GPT4 Turbo, GPT4o, foundational large language models. Google Gemini, a chatbot built using their LaMDA foundation model, Microsoft Bing Co-Pilot, Perplexity, Claude and many others.

Research objectives of this study for strategy (formulation, transformation, execution, stakeholder engagement, and governance) are to:

Discover how Generative AI is currently used.
Discover how Generative AI could be used in the future.
Identify the core benefits, barriers, and impacts for using Generative AI for strategic management.

Your participation is key to our research efforts. The survey takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. We will produce a report to be shared with research participants.

Thank you for providing invaluable contributions to the practice of strategic management and working professionals in our industry.

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* 1. Survey Participant Consent

I understand this study is being conducted by the International Association for Strategy Professionals Australia Chapter, LBL Strategies, iLearning Solutions, Baldrige Foundation, Army Strategist Association, and Transformativ. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. I can choose to withdraw before submission of this questionnaire.

I agree to take part in the above study.

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* 2. In what country do you work?

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* 3. Which of the following best describes the principal industry of your organization?

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* 4. Job Title or Role

Other (please specify)

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* 5. Size of your organization (number of employees)

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* 6. How many years have you been practicing strategy?

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* 7. Are you a certified IASP SPP or IASP SMP, both or N/A?

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* 8. How familiar are you with the concept of generative AI?

Extremely familiar

Very familiar

Somewhat familiar

Not so familiar

Not at all familiar

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* 9. How familiar are you with using generative AI tools for daily tasks such as writing emails, letters and other administrative tasks?

Extremely comfortable

Very comfortable

Moderately comfortable

Slightly comfortable

Not at all comfortable

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* 10. Specific to the use of Generative AI-based tools for strategy formulation, transformation, execution, stakeholder engagement, and governance activities, please select the areas where you have used Generative AI-based tools for your work in strategy.

Strategy Formulation (creating a strategy – includes environmental scanning, and developing mission, vision, values, objectives)

Transformation (aligning organization to the new strategy – includes accountability, enterprise architecture, risk analysis, and transformation plan)

Execution (executing the strategy – including operations and continuous improvements)

Stakeholder Engagement (working with stakeholders to make strategy successful – includes culture, trust, and incentives)

Governance Activities (overseeing strategy development, transformation, execution, and engagement)

I have not used Generative AI-based tools in any of these areas

Other - Please add your current areas of usage

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* 11. To what extent, within the next two years, do you plan to incorporate Generative AI for strategy formulation, transformation, execution, stakeholder engagement, and governance activities?

	Not at all	I'm thinking about it	I'm learning about it	Somewhat	Maximum extent possible
Strategy Formulation (creating a strategy – includes environmental scanning, and developing mission, vision, values, objectives)	Strategy Formulation (creating a strategy – includes environmental scanning, and developing mission, vision, values, objectives) Not at all	Strategy Formulation (creating a strategy – includes environmental scanning, and developing mission, vision, values, objectives) I'm thinking about it	Strategy Formulation (creating a strategy – includes environmental scanning, and developing mission, vision, values, objectives) I'm learning about it	Strategy Formulation (creating a strategy – includes environmental scanning, and developing mission, vision, values, objectives) Somewhat	Strategy Formulation (creating a strategy – includes environmental scanning, and developing mission, vision, values, objectives) Maximum extent possible
Transformation (aligning organization to the new strategy – includes accountability, enterprise architecture, risk analysis, and transformation plan)	Transformation (aligning organization to the new strategy – includes accountability, enterprise architecture, risk analysis, and transformation plan) Not at all	Transformation (aligning organization to the new strategy – includes accountability, enterprise architecture, risk analysis, and transformation plan) I'm thinking about it	Transformation (aligning organization to the new strategy – includes accountability, enterprise architecture, risk analysis, and transformation plan) I'm learning about it	Transformation (aligning organization to the new strategy – includes accountability, enterprise architecture, risk analysis, and transformation plan) Somewhat	Transformation (aligning organization to the new strategy – includes accountability, enterprise architecture, risk analysis, and transformation plan) Maximum extent possible
Execution (executing the strategy – including operations and continuous improvements)	Execution (executing the strategy – including operations and continuous improvements) Not at all	Execution (executing the strategy – including operations and continuous improvements) I'm thinking about it	Execution (executing the strategy – including operations and continuous improvements) I'm learning about it	Execution (executing the strategy – including operations and continuous improvements) Somewhat	Execution (executing the strategy – including operations and continuous improvements) Maximum extent possible
Stakeholder Engagement (working with stakeholders to making strategy successful – includes culture, trust, and incentives)	Stakeholder Engagement (working with stakeholders to making strategy successful – includes culture, trust, and incentives) Not at all	Stakeholder Engagement (working with stakeholders to making strategy successful – includes culture, trust, and incentives) I'm thinking about it	Stakeholder Engagement (working with stakeholders to making strategy successful – includes culture, trust, and incentives) I'm learning about it	Stakeholder Engagement (working with stakeholders to making strategy successful – includes culture, trust, and incentives) Somewhat	Stakeholder Engagement (working with stakeholders to making strategy successful – includes culture, trust, and incentives) Maximum extent possible
Governance Activities (overseeing strategy development, transformation, execution, and engagement)	Governance Activities (overseeing strategy development, transformation, execution, and engagement) Not at all	Governance Activities (overseeing strategy development, transformation, execution, and engagement) I'm thinking about it	Governance Activities (overseeing strategy development, transformation, execution, and engagement) I'm learning about it	Governance Activities (overseeing strategy development, transformation, execution, and engagement) Somewhat	Governance Activities (overseeing strategy development, transformation, execution, and engagement) Maximum extent possible

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* 12. Select the tools and frameworks from which you see the most possibility for utilizing Generative AI in the next two years.

Scenario Planning

Futures Research Signal and Trend Scanning

PESTEL/STEEPLE Environmental Assessment Work

Porter’s Five Forces

SWOT Analysis

Heat Mapping

Core Competency Analysis

Business Model Canvas

Strategy Canvas

Ansoff’s Matrix

Balanced Scorecard and Strategy Maps

Objectives Key Results and Tracking

Initiative Ideation and Prioritization

Consolidation and identification of themes

Project Management Tools

Stakeholder Analysis

Communications Planning

Collaboration Technologies

Competitor Analysis

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* 13. Please rank what you consider to be the five greatest benefits to using Generative AI specific to strategic management work in formulation, transformation, execution, stakeholder engagement, and governance of strategy?

	1st greatest benefit	2nd greatest benefit	3rd greatest benefit	4th greatest benefit	5th greatest benefit
Increased efficiency	Increased efficiency 1st greatest benefit	Increased efficiency 2nd greatest benefit	Increased efficiency 3rd greatest benefit	Increased efficiency 4th greatest benefit	Increased efficiency 5th greatest benefit
Increased productivity	Increased productivity 1st greatest benefit	Increased productivity 2nd greatest benefit	Increased productivity 3rd greatest benefit	Increased productivity 4th greatest benefit	Increased productivity 5th greatest benefit
Improved decision-making	Improved decision-making 1st greatest benefit	Improved decision-making 2nd greatest benefit	Improved decision-making 3rd greatest benefit	Improved decision-making 4th greatest benefit	Improved decision-making 5th greatest benefit
Reduced risk	Reduced risk 1st greatest benefit	Reduced risk 2nd greatest benefit	Reduced risk 3rd greatest benefit	Reduced risk 4th greatest benefit	Reduced risk 5th greatest benefit
Improved customer engagement	Improved customer engagement 1st greatest benefit	Improved customer engagement 2nd greatest benefit	Improved customer engagement 3rd greatest benefit	Improved customer engagement 4th greatest benefit	Improved customer engagement 5th greatest benefit
Enhanced competitive advantage	Enhanced competitive advantage 1st greatest benefit	Enhanced competitive advantage 2nd greatest benefit	Enhanced competitive advantage 3rd greatest benefit	Enhanced competitive advantage 4th greatest benefit	Enhanced competitive advantage 5th greatest benefit
Improved forecasting	Improved forecasting 1st greatest benefit	Improved forecasting 2nd greatest benefit	Improved forecasting 3rd greatest benefit	Improved forecasting 4th greatest benefit	Improved forecasting 5th greatest benefit
Support market research	Support market research 1st greatest benefit	Support market research 2nd greatest benefit	Support market research 3rd greatest benefit	Support market research 4th greatest benefit	Support market research 5th greatest benefit
Improved market analysis	Improved market analysis 1st greatest benefit	Improved market analysis 2nd greatest benefit	Improved market analysis 3rd greatest benefit	Improved market analysis 4th greatest benefit	Improved market analysis 5th greatest benefit
Accelerated product development	Accelerated product development 1st greatest benefit	Accelerated product development 2nd greatest benefit	Accelerated product development 3rd greatest benefit	Accelerated product development 4th greatest benefit	Accelerated product development 5th greatest benefit
Reduced costs	Reduced costs 1st greatest benefit	Reduced costs 2nd greatest benefit	Reduced costs 3rd greatest benefit	Reduced costs 4th greatest benefit	Reduced costs 5th greatest benefit
Enhanced compliance	Enhanced compliance 1st greatest benefit	Enhanced compliance 2nd greatest benefit	Enhanced compliance 3rd greatest benefit	Enhanced compliance 4th greatest benefit	Enhanced compliance 5th greatest benefit
Supports change	Supports change 1st greatest benefit	Supports change 2nd greatest benefit	Supports change 3rd greatest benefit	Supports change 4th greatest benefit	Supports change 5th greatest benefit
Support education and training	Support education and training 1st greatest benefit	Support education and training 2nd greatest benefit	Support education and training 3rd greatest benefit	Support education and training 4th greatest benefit	Support education and training 5th greatest benefit
Team engagement	Team engagement 1st greatest benefit	Team engagement 2nd greatest benefit	Team engagement 3rd greatest benefit	Team engagement 4th greatest benefit	Team engagement 5th greatest benefit
Business model alignment	Business model alignment 1st greatest benefit	Business model alignment 2nd greatest benefit	Business model alignment 3rd greatest benefit	Business model alignment 4th greatest benefit	Business model alignment 5th greatest benefit
Organizing the planning effort	Organizing the planning effort 1st greatest benefit	Organizing the planning effort 2nd greatest benefit	Organizing the planning effort 3rd greatest benefit	Organizing the planning effort 4th greatest benefit	Organizing the planning effort 5th greatest benefit
Stakeholder engagement	Stakeholder engagement 1st greatest benefit	Stakeholder engagement 2nd greatest benefit	Stakeholder engagement 3rd greatest benefit	Stakeholder engagement 4th greatest benefit	Stakeholder engagement 5th greatest benefit
Organizational learning	Organizational learning 1st greatest benefit	Organizational learning 2nd greatest benefit	Organizational learning 3rd greatest benefit	Organizational learning 4th greatest benefit	Organizational learning 5th greatest benefit

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Please rank what you consider to be the five greatest challenges to using Generative AI specific to strategic management work in the formulation, transformation, execution, stakeholder engagement, and governance of strategy?

	1st greatest challenge	2nd greatest challenge	3rd greatest challenge	4th greatest challenge	5th greatest challenge
Lack of confidence	Lack of confidence 1st greatest challenge	Lack of confidence 2nd greatest challenge	Lack of confidence 3rd greatest challenge	Lack of confidence 4th greatest challenge	Lack of confidence 5th greatest challenge
Ethical concerns	Ethical concerns 1st greatest challenge	Ethical concerns 2nd greatest challenge	Ethical concerns 3rd greatest challenge	Ethical concerns 4th greatest challenge	Ethical concerns 5th greatest challenge
Cost	Cost 1st greatest challenge	Cost 2nd greatest challenge	Cost 3rd greatest challenge	Cost 4th greatest challenge	Cost 5th greatest challenge
Training required	Training required 1st greatest challenge	Training required 2nd greatest challenge	Training required 3rd greatest challenge	Training required 4th greatest challenge	Training required 5th greatest challenge
Regulatory requirements	Regulatory requirements 1st greatest challenge	Regulatory requirements 2nd greatest challenge	Regulatory requirements 3rd greatest challenge	Regulatory requirements 4th greatest challenge	Regulatory requirements 5th greatest challenge
Complexity	Complexity 1st greatest challenge	Complexity 2nd greatest challenge	Complexity 3rd greatest challenge	Complexity 4th greatest challenge	Complexity 5th greatest challenge
Security	Security 1st greatest challenge	Security 2nd greatest challenge	Security 3rd greatest challenge	Security 4th greatest challenge	Security 5th greatest challenge
Compliance	Compliance 1st greatest challenge	Compliance 2nd greatest challenge	Compliance 3rd greatest challenge	Compliance 4th greatest challenge	Compliance 5th greatest challenge
Lack of general acceptance	Lack of general acceptance 1st greatest challenge	Lack of general acceptance 2nd greatest challenge	Lack of general acceptance 3rd greatest challenge	Lack of general acceptance 4th greatest challenge	Lack of general acceptance 5th greatest challenge
Sustainability	Sustainability 1st greatest challenge	Sustainability 2nd greatest challenge	Sustainability 3rd greatest challenge	Sustainability 4th greatest challenge	Sustainability 5th greatest challenge
Loss of jobs	Loss of jobs 1st greatest challenge	Loss of jobs 2nd greatest challenge	Loss of jobs 3rd greatest challenge	Loss of jobs 4th greatest challenge	Loss of jobs 5th greatest challenge
Confidentiality	Confidentiality 1st greatest challenge	Confidentiality 2nd greatest challenge	Confidentiality 3rd greatest challenge	Confidentiality 4th greatest challenge	Confidentiality 5th greatest challenge
Disruption	Disruption 1st greatest challenge	Disruption 2nd greatest challenge	Disruption 3rd greatest challenge	Disruption 4th greatest challenge	Disruption 5th greatest challenge
Reliability of responses	Reliability of responses 1st greatest challenge	Reliability of responses 2nd greatest challenge	Reliability of responses 3rd greatest challenge	Reliability of responses 4th greatest challenge	Reliability of responses 5th greatest challenge
Overuse – personal relationship damage	Overuse – personal relationship damage 1st greatest challenge	Overuse – personal relationship damage 2nd greatest challenge	Overuse – personal relationship damage 3rd greatest challenge	Overuse – personal relationship damage 4th greatest challenge	Overuse – personal relationship damage 5th greatest challenge

Other (please specify)

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* 15. To what degree do you believe using Generative AI for strategic management impacts the following:

	High	Moderate	Low	None
Customer service	Customer service High	Customer service Moderate	Customer service Low	Customer service None
Customer responsiveness	Customer responsiveness High	Customer responsiveness Moderate	Customer responsiveness Low	Customer responsiveness None
Customer engagement	Customer engagement High	Customer engagement Moderate	Customer engagement Low	Customer engagement None
Competitive landscape	Competitive landscape High	Competitive landscape Moderate	Competitive landscape Low	Competitive landscape None
Level of Risk	Level of Risk High	Level of Risk Moderate	Level of Risk Low	Level of Risk None
Creativity and innovation	Creativity and innovation High	Creativity and innovation Moderate	Creativity and innovation Low	Creativity and innovation None
Gaining competitive advantage	Gaining competitive advantage High	Gaining competitive advantage Moderate	Gaining competitive advantage Low	Gaining competitive advantage None
Efficiency	Efficiency High	Efficiency Moderate	Efficiency Low	Efficiency None
Level of decision making	Level of decision making High	Level of decision making Moderate	Level of decision making Low	Level of decision making None
Productivity	Productivity High	Productivity Moderate	Productivity Low	Productivity None
Compliance	Compliance High	Compliance Moderate	Compliance Low	Compliance None
Ethical challenges	Ethical challenges High	Ethical challenges Moderate	Ethical challenges Low	Ethical challenges None
Demand for data scientists	Demand for data scientists High	Demand for data scientists Moderate	Demand for data scientists Low	Demand for data scientists None
Demand for new skills	Demand for new skills High	Demand for new skills Moderate	Demand for new skills Low	Demand for new skills None
Level of innovation	Level of innovation High	Level of innovation Moderate	Level of innovation Low	Level of innovation None
Creativity	Creativity High	Creativity Moderate	Creativity Low	Creativity None
Risk of bias	Risk of bias High	Risk of bias Moderate	Risk of bias Low	Risk of bias None
Disruption to business process	Disruption to business process High	Disruption to business process Moderate	Disruption to business process Low	Disruption to business process None
Level of competition	Level of competition High	Level of competition Moderate	Level of competition Low	Level of competition None
Level of transparency	Level of transparency High	Level of transparency Moderate	Level of transparency Low	Level of transparency None
Role of the International Association for Strategy Professionals (IASP)	Role of the International Association for Strategy Professionals (IASP) High	Role of the International Association for Strategy Professionals (IASP) Moderate	Role of the International Association for Strategy Professionals (IASP) Low	Role of the International Association for Strategy Professionals (IASP) None
IASP level certification	IASP level certification High	IASP level certification Moderate	IASP level certification Low	IASP level certification None

Others? (please list)

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* 16. Which of the following are of greatest concern to you in the use of Generative AI in the future? Please select your top five concerns. Not seeing a concern, or concerns, you have listed below? Add them in "Other concern(s):"

Job losses

Bias

Ethical implications

Ethical judgements

Security

Confidentiality and privacy

Misuse of data

Disruption to existing industries

Disruption to existing business processes

Lack of transparency

Increased inequality

Negative impact on the environment

Sustainability

Acceptance

Hallucination

Complexity

Data Requirements

Lack of human contact

Existential risk

Rate of change

Loss of control

Moral hazard

Increased fraud

Increased cyber risks

Accountability

Lack of historical and social context

Handling ethical dilemmas

Lack of contextual understanding

Lack of common sense

Impact on trust

Misinformation

Safety

Regulation

Compliance

Cost of implementation

Other concerns or comments regarding the future use of Generative AI?

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* 17. How important is the governance of Generative AI within an organization?

Extremely important

Very important

Somewhat important

Not so important

Not at all important

Other comments on "How are you seeing organizations governing AI today?"

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* 18. What barriers do you anticipate in evaluating whether to incorporate AI into your strategic planning and management practice?

None

Too costly

My team won’t support it / resistance

Lack of skills

Ethical considerations

Other comments or feedback related to this question:

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* 19. Do you have any other comments or feedback on the use of AI in strategy work today or into the future?

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* 20. Thank you for taking time to respond to the survey. If you would like copy of research findings and/or be contacted for an interview, please provide your name and email address below.

Name

Email Address