The Alignment Advantage in Transformation: Does Your Organization Have It?

Board Perspectives — Issue 197

Better executive alignment leads to better results. Cohesion in the C-suite is essential to realizing value from an organization’s transformation initiatives, according to Protiviti’s survey, The Alignment Advantage in Transformation, conducted in partnership with the University of Oxford.  

Transformation is no longer solely a technology challenge; it’s an alignment challenge across the C-suite. Firms realizing an ‘alignment advantage’ uncover more value from transformation and maintain a strategic edge over competitors that find it elusive.

The survey offers six takeaways for boards and executives:

• There is strong correlation between executive alignment and transformation maturity. Technological maturity delivers a higher level of confidence in achieving transformational outcomes.
• Transformation success depends on who you ask. Executives designing or delivering change assess transformation initiatives as more successful. Those responsible for the performance of the business and the workforce are least confident in the outcomes of transformation initiatives.
• Executives agree on why, diverge on how. Most executives agree that the primary driver of transformation is to improve operational efficiency and cost optimization.
• Significant AI enthusiasm, less clear AI value. Leaders are far more aligned when it comes to using operational metrics to assess the ROI of tech investments.
• Investment focus data. A vast majority of executives prioritize data platforms and governance compared to less than half for AI specifically — reinforcing the message that it is “foundation first.”
• Cybersecurity demands attention — and not just from the CISO. Cybersecurity leaders stand out in their identification of issues that are less of a concern for other executives.

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