Leadership Is the Key to AI Adoption — Especially for COOs
AI adoption isn’t just a technology initiative — it’s an operational leadership challenge. While many executive conversations around AI still focus on productivity, the real question for operations leaders is: Is AI making work better for the people who keep the...
How to Find Hidden Gains in Everyday Tasks
“It was all right there in my own backyard.” This metaphor often rings true in business. Leaders do hours of research to identify processes, products, and services that uncover hidden gains and fail to look at what’s in front of them. Specifically, observing everyday...
How Ops Teams Develop Future CEOs
Are you aiming to become a CEO? The ops department could be a good place to start. Operations teams work closely with financial management, human resources, equipment and technology, process optimization, customer support, and risk management, providing a...
COO’s on the Move: July 2025
Operational excellence is the backbone of every thriving organization, and in today’s complex global economy, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) plays a critical role in driving efficiency, innovation, and scalable growth. As companies adapt to rapid technological...
DOs and DON’Ts of Connecting Strategy With Execution
Connecting strategy with execution starts and ends with people. To execute well, we must Create Clarity and Buy-in, Focus Execution, and Establish a Rhythm for Accountability. Dos and Don’ts for each of these areas are listed below. The DOs are interdependent and...
Why COOs Should Prioritize Operational Efficiency Over Growth – Webcast Highlights
Operations Council recently held a panel discussion titled, Why COOs Should Prioritize Operational Efficiency Over Growth, sponsored by Workiro. Our subject matter experts were Chris Muir, VP at Workiro and author of The Winning Strategy, and Andy Zinkle, Director ERP...
What Sustainable Operations Mean in the Age of AI
When it comes to the relationship between sustainability and AI, it’s complicated. On the one hand, AI relies on massive datasets that require storage, which could harm the environment. On the other hand, it can scan systems and gather insights that can help companies...
Operational Intelligence: When Should AI Drive the Decisions?
For today’s COOs, artificial intelligence is no longer a distant frontier—it’s a daily operational reality. From supply chain optimization to workforce planning and quality control, AI is rapidly integrating into the fabric of how businesses run. But as AI systems...
The Future of Work: Adapting Operations to a Remote First World
The growing popularity of remote work has led to a remote-first business world. In this world, remote is the default or primary model, rather than the secondary one. Companies prioritize flexible work locations, asynchronous communication, and robust technological...
The Lean COO: How Leaders Drive Operational Efficiency at Scale
A need for efficiency has led to the creation of the lean COO. This executive’s main priority is to streamline processes and achieve business goals. The approach involves minimizing waste, eliminating bottlenecks, and reducing distractions. Most organizations can...
Data Driven Decision Making: Leveraging Analytics for Operational Excellence
Today’s businesses are bringing data regarding decision-making processes to the table. They use historical data and predictive analytics to determine the best moves for their company. The information helps them make informed decisions that lead to better outcomes....
Developing an AI First Mindset: Putting People at the Center of Business Transformation
Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a tool—it’s a turning point. But the real story isn’t about the technology. It’s about people. AI is revolutionizing how we work, unlocking new levels of productivity, quality, and creativity. Yet, the organizations that will...
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