My key report of 2025 is that AI is driving the end of IT as we know it. I followed up that article with what world-class IT looks like in the AI era, and the big storyline is how CIOs must evolve their digital operating models.

News flash: That means revisiting the digital transformation core competencies, especially agile, product management, and DevOps. Businesses have two significant drivers of IT transformation heading into 2026:

• IT delivers short-term ROI and longer-term strategic value from AI investments, and
• IT becomes more productive, efficient, faster, and more resilient in its delivery and service management practices by leveraging AI capabilities.

Updating your digital operating model for the AI era

I recently recorded “Deliver AI Innovations: Evolutions in Product Management, Agile & DevOps,” which summarizes my recommendations for product and delivery leaders.

• Product management must be laser-focused on delivering value.
• Agile needs to include continuous planning and change management disciplines.
• DevOps have new responsibilities around resiliency to support AI.

The AI charter for product management, agile, and DevOps

Below are five articles I wrote this year that provide more details.

Seize Real Advantages: 7 Urgent Reasons to Revisit Agile for the AI Era – “The bottom line is that business expectations have changed drastically since 3-5 years ago (the pandemic era) and even more since 5-10 years ago (the CX, data, and cloud era).”

Top 7 Leadership Mistakes When Assigning People to Agile Teams  – “Every organization should develop its agile ways of working, principles, and standards. Generic certifications, scaling frameworks, and 101 training courses don’t cover the organization’s approach.”

How to Drive a Smarter, Innovative, and Predictable Agile Delivery Model – “It’s nearly twenty-five years after the Agile Manifesto was signed. Yet, many organizations struggle with defining a consistent, agile delivery model with self-organizing standards.”

Product-based IT: 6 key steps for making the switch  –  “To shift to product management methodologies, CIOs need to get business leaders to see IT as a department that delivers services and technology capabilities as products rather than one that manages projects and platforms.”

What Smart CIOs Know About DevOps That Everyone Else Misses  –  “Much like business initiatives and new end-user capabilities require prioritization, so does selecting DevOps practices. But even more importantly, DevOps practice leaders should propose a minimal reference architecture and requirements.”

A transformation plan for Digital Trailblazers

AI is reshaping business, but not transforming business models yet. IT’s digital operating model needs to evolve, much as mobile, cloud, and DevOps have driven past process changes.

So, will 2025 be status quo in your IT organization? Calling all Digital Trailblazers!

If you haven’t checked it out yet, watch my 10-minute video, “Deliver AI Innovations: Evolutions in Product Management, Agile & DevOps.”