Can AI even help us with strategy?

In the past, strategy was the sacred ground of executives with experience, vision, and gut instinct. Today, AI is emerging as a powerful strategy design tool —not to replace leadership judgment, but to sharpen it.

Think of AI as your virtual strategy consultant who can help you 24/7 with information you would need to ask a research team to dig out, as a thinking partner who can generate strategc ideas, evaluate options, challenge and complement your thinking.

THE KEY IS IN USING THE RIGHT PROCESS AND RIGHT PROMPTS

Here is a tested process and a set of proven prompts along SEED’s ‘BASE’ strategic leadership framework:

B — BIG PICTURE
Understand your strategic context: Stakeholder intent, Position, Strengths, and Trends.

Use These Prompts:

• “List the top stakeholder groups (internal and external) for a company like ours in [industry/region], and summarize what each likely expects from us over the next 3 years.”
• “Assess the strategic position of our company in comparison to [Competitor A] and [Competitor B] within the CEE market. What makes us stand out or fall behind?”
• “What 5 emerging trends (tech, economic, social, regulatory) should companies in our sector monitor closely by 2030?”

A — ASPIRATION
Define where you want to go: Purpose, Vision, and the Big Move(s) to take.

Use These Prompts:

• “Draft a clear and motivating purpose statement for a company like ours, that reflects our heritage, people, and ambition in a CEE context.”
• “Write 3 alternative vision statements for our company in 2030—one bold and ambitious, one purpose-driven, and one innovation-focused.”
• “What would be a ‘big move’ that could redefine our position in the [industry/CEE market]? Consider ideas beyond incremental change.”

S — STRATEGY DESIGN
Craft how you’ll compete: Playfield, Advantage, Capabilities, Operating Mode.

Use These Prompts:

• “Map possible strategic arenas for us to play in: new customer segments, geographies, value chain moves, or business models.”
• “Based on our strengths and market dynamics, what unique strategic advantages could we develop that are hard to copy?”
• “If we want to achieve [vision/big move], what new organizational capabilities, partnerships, or technology must we build or acquire?”

E — EXECUTION
Make it real: Change Portfolio, Roadmap, and Change Leadership.

Use These Prompts:

• “Design a portfolio of 5 strategic initiatives that would help us move from current state to our vision. Include a mix of quick wins and long bets.”
• “Propose a high-level 18-month roadmap for implementing our strategy, showing major phases, milestones, and interdependencies.”
• “What leadership behaviors and communication approaches are most critical for driving strategic change in a CEE cultural context?”

THE MINDSET SHIFT: AI AS STRATEGY SPARRING PARTNER

In the CEE business environment, filled with volatility, opportunity, and accelerating change, leveraging AI as a strategic thinking tool can create competitive advantage. But you have to use it in the right way: think of a strategy design and implementation process with a new member on the leadership team – your strategic AI consultant.

WHAT IS THE BEST AI TOOL FOR STRATEGY?

There are many tools you can use, new tools and new versions are out each week. I use ChatGPT and Claude, I have found them very useful in strategic thinking situations, if you want to be on the safe and proven side, use them. But if you want to experiment further, do try other tools, and let us know how helpful they were with your strategy design?

The article was written by dr. László Eszes, CEO and Academic Director of SEED Executive School.