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THE ALIGNMENT ADVANTAGE IN TRANSFORMATION

The alignment advantage is clear.

7 min read

Transformation gains momentum when leaders align on goals, metrics and expectations.

Protiviti's 2026 Global Executive Survey: The Alignment Advantage in Transformation, conducted in partnership with the University of Oxford and based on 850+ C-suite executives, finds a strong relationship between executive alignment and technology modernisation maturity, along with higher confidence in areas like AI value, strategy execution and operational performance. The data reveals a clear opportunity: alignment is a leadership advantage that helps scale transformation value.

Key findings at a glance

Alignment leads to more than 3x higher confidence in performance outcomes
Perceptions of transformation success vary significantly across the C-suite
AI, data and governance are central to transformation investments
Operational efficiency and cost optimisation remain primary transformation drivers
Workforce capability remains a critical lever for progress

Explore insights by role

Why organisations transform

Transformation is driven by a mix of performance, insight and growth priorities.

Executives cite three leading motivations:

How executives unlock the alignment advantage

The research highlights five ways organisations turn alignment into measurable impact:

One transformation agenda. Six perspectives.

Alignment isn't abstract — it plays out role by role.

We analysed how six pivotal roles view key elements of organisational transformation. The results reveal where confidence runs ahead of peers, where it falls behind and how those differences influence business outcomes.

Explore how each role views transformation

For a full comparison across the C-suite, download the 2026 Global Transformation Survey.

How to read the chart below:

Navigate between combined and separate C-suite perspectives
Bigger shape = higher confidence/agreement
More rounded shape = consistent confidence/agreement across areas
Uneven shape = gaps in confidence/agreement across transformation priorities
Differences between roles = misalignment in the C-suite

CEO/BOARD

THE CEO/BOARD LENS

Most skeptical perspective.

CEOs and boards report low confidence across transformation delivery, AI value and workforce readiness relative to other functions.

Action for executives:

Give the Board a curated line of sight to the pipeline, ROI dashboards and early wins the functions already trust — close the read, not just the work.

*Percentages reflect net confidence or agreement in each statement, not percentage of respondents.

FINANCE (CFO)

THE FINANCE LENS

Disciplined but measured view.

Finance leaders are aligned on ROI rigor but show more caution on workforce adaptability and AI’s ability to deliver broader operational value.

Action for executives:

Make the CFO the arbiter of the transformation business case — route ROI metrics and AI value claims through finance to convert conviction into funded commitment.

*Percentages reflect net confidence or agreement in each statement, not percentage of respondents.

HR (CHRO)

THE HR LENS

Lowest confidence across functions.

HR leaders express concern about transformation outcomes, workforce readiness and the organisation’s ability to scale AI effectively.

Action for executives:

Move from individual upskilling to role redesign and give HR a workforce-readiness maturity model so confidence rests on evidence.

*Percentages reflect net confidence or agreement in each statement, not percentage of respondents.

OPERATIONS (COO)

THE OPERATIONS LENS

Strongest overall confidence.

Operations leaders believe transformation is delivering results, with clear ROI, active AI adoption and a workforce that can keep pace.

Action for executives:

Anchor the investment case in operational ROI metrics — operations is the bridge between technologist conviction and board-level proof.

*Percentages reflect net confidence or agreement in each statement, not percentage of respondents.

SECURITY (CISO)

THE SECURITY LENS

Confident but risk-aware.

Security leaders align on ROI and transformation success but are less confident in the organisation’s ability to integrate AI securely.

Action for executives:

Fund security as an enabler of safe AI adoption, not a constraint, and close the tech–security integration gap before scaling.

*Percentages reflect net confidence or agreement in each statement, not percentage of respondents.

TECH (CIO/CTO)

THE TECHNOLOGY LENS

Most optimistic function.

Technology leaders show high confidence across AI exploration, ROI tracking and integration, positioning tech as the primary driver of progress.

Action for executives:

Use tech as the evidence engine — channel its conviction into board-ready proof points so governance keeps pace with the technology agenda.

*Percentages reflect net confidence or agreement in each statement, not percentage of respondents.

FAQs

+ EXPAND ALL

What does the transformation survey reveal about executive alignment?

The transformation survey reveals a strong connection between executive alignment and transformation maturity. Organisations where C-suite leaders share common goals, success metrics and operational priorities report higher confidence in technology modernisation outcomes, AI ROI and transformation execution. The findings suggest that transformation success depends as much on leadership cohesion as it does on technology investment.

What are the biggest findings from the transformation survey?

The transformation survey highlights several major themes shaping enterprise transformation today, including executive misalignment around AI value realisation, growing operational pressure on COOs and CFOs, increasing investment in data platforms and governance and widening concerns around cybersecurity readiness. The research also found that organisations with higher transformation maturity experience stronger confidence in execution and business outcomes.

How does the transformation survey define transformation maturity?

The transformation survey defines transformation maturity as an organisation’s ability to modernise technology, operationalise new capabilities and align leadership teams around measurable business outcomes. Organisations at more advanced stages of maturity demonstrate stronger governance, clearer AI value measurement, greater workforce adaptability and higher executive confidence across transformation initiatives.

What does the transformation survey reveal about AI investments?

According to the transformation survey, executives broadly agree that AI and technology modernisation are essential to future growth and operational efficiency. However, confidence declines when leaders are asked whether AI investments are generating measurable revenue growth and cost savings. The findings show that organisations still face challenges translating AI experimentation into clearly defined business value.

What industries are represented in the transformation survey?

The transformation survey includes perspectives from executives across industries including financial services, manufacturing and industrials, healthcare and life sciences, consumer goods and technology. While priorities differ by sector, the research found consistent themes around operational efficiency, data governance, workforce adaptation and the growing importance of executive alignment in transformation success.

Why is the survey important for business leaders?

The transformation survey provides business leaders with insight into how organisations are approaching AI, technology modernisation, operational transformation and workforce adaptation. More importantly, it highlights the organisational and leadership dynamics that influence transformation outcomes. The findings help executives better understand where disconnects exist across the C-suite and where alignment can accelerate business value, resilience and long-term growth.

Does the transformation survey identify regional differences in transformation maturity and executive priorities?

Yes. The transformation survey highlights meaningful regional differences across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific in areas such as transformation maturity, AI adoption, executive confidence and operational priorities. Europe demonstrated the highest levels of technological maturity and governance discipline but lower confidence in execution and AI value realisation. North America showed stronger confidence in transformation execution, AI integration and operational agility despite lower overall maturity levels. Asia-Pacific emerged as the most dynamic and growth-oriented region, with strong investment ambition balanced by challenges related to skills shortages, legacy systems and uneven organisational capability.

The Alignment Advantage: Expert Insights

Dive deeper into the findings. Hear Protiviti's subject matter experts, Kim Bozzella and David Petrucci, unpack the survey findings and explore how executive alignment can help organisations unlock greater value from transformation initiatives.

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