The intrepid COO: 5 strategies to shatter enterprise inertia

Chief Operating Officers (COOs) need to think like strategists and execute like realists. They must strengthen organizational resilience through robust cybersecurity measures and operational excellence, while driving aggressive business expansion that delivers exceptional customer experiences.

And they need to do all of this in a world buffeted by geopolitical volatility and AI-driven disruption that’s driving two-thirds of CEOs to say they’re willing to take on even more risk to maintain competitive advantage.
 

Welcome, agentic AI

At the same time, organizations are grappling with agentic AI. As operations shift from automating tasks to orchestrating self-adapting processes, operations leaders are navigating unprecedented challenges—along with unprecedented opportunities.
 

The most forward-thinking COOs are creating an entirely new operating model. What’s changed?

Traditional operating models weren’t built for AI that can reason, act, and learn autonomously. The agentic AI enterprise operating model transforms how work gets done—by enabling AI agents to collaborate with people and systems in real time, driving exponential gains in productivity, speed, and innovation. It’s not just automation—it’s a new way to operate. 

To gain a deeper understanding of enterprise operations today and tomorrow, the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBM IBV) surveyed more than 1,900 Chief Operating Officers (COOs) and Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs) in 25 industries and 33 countries. The survey, conducted in May and June 2025, reveals how reimagining operations can accelerate growth.
 

Five strategies to shatter enterprise inertia

Our research has identified five strategies to shatter enterprise inertia:

The intrepid COO

Read the report for a deep dive into all five strategies, case studies including IBM’s own Client Zero approach, and specific actions to help you grow operations—and your organization. The time is now to become an intrepid COO.