Our SPM Christmas Wish List: Beyond Automation to Intelligent Insight

Look for AI that can elevate true subject matter experts by filtering out noise and identifying granular insights.
Seek AI that moves beyond summarization to actively preparing strategic options and facilitating complex decision-making.
Strive for AI that initiates meaningful conversations about risks and opportunities, rather than just issuing alerts.

The holidays are a time for reflection, for making wishes, and for looking ahead to what the coming year might bring. For those of us deeply immersed in strategic portfolio management (SPM), this season often turns our thoughts to the future of our industry. What advancements would truly elevate our ability to execute strategy, deliver business outcomes, and maximize ROI?

This year, our SPM wish list isn't about new features for existing tools. Instead, we’re hoping for a fundamental shift in how we leverage technology, particularly AI.

Wish #1: AI that truly separates the experts from the fluff

Our biggest wish for SPM in the coming year is for AI to become a sophisticated arbiter of true subject matter expertise. In any organization, the deepest insights—the nuances of how things work, the subtle interdependencies, the specific details that drive success—reside with the seasoned individuals who truly understand the business. In its current form, AI is excellent at processing vast amounts of data and communicating general concepts. However, it often struggles with the granular, context-specific details that are the hallmark of an expert.

Imagine an AI-powered SPM tool that could accurately distinguish between those who genuinely possess deep knowledge and those who are merely proficient in corporate communication. AI could absorb vast amounts of organizational data, processes, and historical information. It could then identify individuals whose contributions are demonstrably tied to specific, detailed knowledge, rather than just talk. This would allow us to spotlight and amplify the voices of our true subject matter experts, ensuring their invaluable insights are leveraged for strategic decision-making, better resource allocation, and ultimately, more successful strategy execution.

Wish #2: From "talking" AI to "doing" AI: Empowering strategic decision-making

We envision AI evolving beyond simply generating text or summarizing information—the "talking" aspect. Our wish is for AI to truly become an "agentic" force that moves us towards strategic "doing." The current iteration of AI can talk more than most people and often knows more generally. But it lacks the crucial understanding of specific, often unwritten, organizational details.

The future of SPM, powered by advanced AI, should involve agents that can perform complex research, analyze competitor actions, and formulate options for strategic responses. While AI may not be capable of making the final, high-stakes decisions (that still requires human responsibility and ethical judgment), it can do the meticulous groundwork. It can present well-researched scenarios, outline the implications of acquisition versus internal development, or highlight the potential ROI of different strategic paths. This frees up human leaders from the "busy work"—the data gathering and initial analysis—allowing them to focus on the truly difficult, strategic decisions that require human insight and accountability.

Wish #3: AI-initiated conversations, not just alerts

We've all grown accustomed to alerts from our systems—such as a phone notification or a dashboard warning. However, many of us have learned to tune these out, often because we’re overwhelmed by the sheer volume. Our wish is for AI in SPM to move beyond passive alerts to actively initiating meaningful conversations. Imagine an AI service that, based on its understanding of strategic goals and real-time organizational data, initiates the following dialogue: "Based on recent market shifts and your competitor's moves, we've identified a potential risk to your Q2 strategic objective. Here are three potential responses with their projected impacts..."

This proactive, conversational AI would engage us, rather than just notifying us. The challenge will be in training AI to initiate these conversations in a way that humans are willing to engage with, distinguishing them from mere machine-generated noise. This could revolutionize how we stay ahead of risks, identify opportunities, and ensure our portfolios dynamically adapt to achieve desired business outcomes.

Wish #4: Revolutionizing SPM tools: The next generation of strategy execution

While it's tempting to wish for existing SPM vendors to adopt these capabilities, our sincere wish is for revolutionary tools to emerge from unexpected places. The history of innovation shows that disruptive change often comes from nimble startups unburdened by legacy systems or established business models—the innovator’s dilemma. We foresee a future in which SPM tools might emerge that don’t resemble current platforms at all.

Imagine tools that leverage real-time intelligence, perhaps by capturing on-the-ground information through simple voice notes or visual data, and then translate that data into actionable plans. These tools could bypass the complexities of traditional project management, offering a more fluid, dynamic approach to strategy execution. While existing vendors will undoubtedly adapt, the truly groundbreaking advancements may come from those outside the current SPM ecosystem. This can open up new possibilities for how we manage strategy, resources, and ultimately, our ROI.

Key takeaways for IT leaders

Here are several top considerations for executives:

AI for expertise, not just generalities: Wish for AI that can elevate true subject matter experts by filtering out noise and identifying granular insights.
From talking to doing: Seek AI that moves beyond summarization to actively preparing strategic options and facilitating complex decision-making.
Proactive engagement: Hope for AI that initiates meaningful conversations about risks and opportunities, rather than just issuing alerts.
Embrace disruptive innovation: Be open to revolutionary SPM tools emerging from new players, as they may completely redefine strategy execution.
Focus on human-AI collaboration: Recognize that the future lies in employing AI to augment human decision-making, not replace it entirely.

This holiday season, our wish for SPM is one of intelligent advancement—tools and AI capabilities that empower us to make more informed decisions, execute strategy more effectively, and truly advance the business outcomes our organizations depend on.