312-41 practice question 12 of 35

A multinational logistics firm has moved well beyond its initial experimental phase. As the Chief Strategy Officer, you conduct an annual review and…

Choose your answer, then check it against the explanation.

A multinational logistics firm has moved well beyond its initial experimental phase. As the Chief Strategy Officer, you conduct an annual review and find that AI is no longer operating as a set of standalone applications. Instead, AI solutions are now deployed enterprise-wide and are deeply embedded into core business processes like inventory management and route optimization. Furthermore, you note that business outcomes are clearly defined, with specific performance metrics tied directly to revenue impact and customer experience. According to the maturity model, which stage is represented by this shift to enterprise-wide integration and measurable operational value?

Answer options

Correct Answer:

Explanation

The scenario describes an organization that has integrated AI enterprise-wide into core processes, with a clear focus on measuring business outcomes and performance. This aligns with the 'Managed' stage of an AI maturity model. At this stage, processes are not just defined but are actively managed and controlled using quantitative data. The firm has moved beyond ad-hoc projects ('Emerging') and standardized processes ('Defined') to a state where AI's value is systematically measured and linked to strategic objectives like revenue and customer experience.

Why Incorrect

A. Optimized: This stage focuses on continuous improvement and proactive innovation, which is a step beyond the described state of being managed and measured.

C. Emerging: This is the initial, experimental phase with standalone applications, which the firm is explicitly described as being "well beyond."

D. Defined: This stage involves standardizing processes but lacks the enterprise-wide integration and rigorous performance measurement characteristic of the 'Managed' stage.

References

1. Ransbotham, S., Kiron, D., & Gerbert, P. (2018). "The Four Stages of AI Maturity." MIT Sloan Management Review. This article outlines a maturity model where the stage involving enterprise-level coordination and measuring business impact aligns with the 'Managed' concept.

2. Microsoft. (2021). "AI Maturity Model." Microsoft AI Business School. The model describes the "Managed" stage as having AI integrated into business processes with established KPIs to measure business value, which directly matches the scenario.

Question 12 of 35

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