The OODA Loop in Business: Agile Thinking for an AI-Dominated Market

Let’s hit some Friday Big Ideas, particularly with a long weekend ahead.

An article in ZDNet got my attention.  Businesses need a new operating model to compete in an AI-powered economy. Vala Afshar highlights the widening trust gap as AI becomes more mainstream and emphasizes the importance of human validation in AI outputs. The article also mentions the increasing role of generative AI and the need for companies to have a holistic approach built on trust. It introduces the concept of boundless companies and their ability to use technologies like AI to reach their full potential. The Boundless Operating Model is presented as a guide for organizations to design and develop processes that enhance their responsiveness and connectedness in a rapidly changing world.  One of the models used is known as the Observe-Orient-Decide-Act loop, aka the OODA loop, that military strategist John Boyd designed. He aimed to explain how fighter pilots can excel in combat. His insight was that the ability to sense and respond to rapidly changing conditions more quickly than an adversary gives the pilot a competitive advantage.

The other from Fast Company by Stephen Lind discusses the changes to how you may send emails with AI infusion.     His premise is that improving productivity and efficiency will make us better at email. It can assist with inbox organization, suggest personalized responses, and enhance writing skills. AI integration in email clients will make existing tools more robust and seamless. By automating tasks and providing customized suggestions, AI has the potential to save time and reduce email overload, ultimately making email a more effective communication tool.

And if you need a little fun, how about the Weirdest Ways to get hacked, like Near-Ultrasound Inaudible Trojan (NUIT) attacks targeting voice assistants, Wi-Fi signal tracking to see people through walls, and voice spoofing using AI-generated voices?  Catch that in ITBrew.

I always like an excellent big-picture article about operating models…. And always start from the idea of “you should have one.”   Too many providers simply don’t have one.     Debates over which are fun, but start with having one versus not… and make sure you have one.   

Then, I liked this one too.   

I enjoy thinking about how technology may disrupt or improve existing business practices.  Email isn’t dead for a reason – it works for many situations.  That doesn’t mean it can’t improve, and an academic who spends time thinking about it is a voice to listen to when considering what you may do for your customers.

Enjoy the long weekend.