iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Before adding AI to a slow process, ask whether the process still needs to exist. That is the “delete” mindset Jalal Maskoun argues for in his DEV Community article: rather than simply speeding up a manual decision or handoff, consider whether a redesigned workflow could remove it. That is a useful management question—not proof that most AI strategies fail, or that every manual step should go.
What does the “delete” mindset mean for a founder?
It means treating AI as a reason to question how work is organized, not just as a faster way to perform an existing task. A company might put a chatbot in front of a customer-service queue, for example, and leave the same routing rules, approvals, and follow-up work intact. A more ambitious redesign asks which parts of that sequence are still necessary and which could be removed without harming the outcome.
Maskoun puts the question this way: “The real question every CEO should be asking isn’t "where can we add AI"; it’s "which slow, manual decision in this company should no longer exist."” His examples are approvals that take a week, reports assembled manually every Monday, and customer answers waiting for a person to type. They illustrate his argument; they are not documented deployments with measured results.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe distinction matters because automating one task does not necessarily fix the process around it. A faster draft may still wait for the same approval. An automatically assembled report may still contain information no one uses. A customer response may arrive quickly but still fail to resolve the issue. The useful question is not simply whether AI can do a task. It is whether changing the task changes a business result that matters.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Why is changing the workflow different from adding AI?
Adding AI usually changes how one step is performed. Redesigning a workflow considers the purpose, sequence, ownership, and controls of the work as a whole. The distinction below is an analytical way to think about the decision, not a framework tested by the surveys cited here.
| Question | AI added to the current process | Workflow redesigned around the outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | How can this task be done faster? | What result is needed, and which steps are necessary to deliver it? |
| Scope | One task, such as drafting a report or response | The steps, handoffs, decisions, and controls around the task |
| Likely measure to examine | Time spent on the automated task | A business outcome such as end-to-end cycle time, error rate, cost, revenue, or resolution quality |
| Risk to watch | The task gets faster but the bottleneck remains elsewhere | A step is removed even though it served a necessary control or judgment function |
A faster task can still be valuable. The point is not that incremental improvement is wrong, but that speed at one point in a process can hide delays and costs elsewhere. If a new system drafts an approval memo in minutes but the decision still waits in a manager’s queue, the draft time is not the same as the time required to complete the work.
What does the 2025 evidence say about workflow redesign?
McKinsey’s 2025 surveys offer a reason to take workflow change seriously, while also setting limits on what can be concluded. Their findings describe survey respondents’ reports and associations; they do not prove that redesign alone caused business gains or establish that a given approach will work for a particular founder.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Workflow redesign and reported gen-AI impact
In its March 2025 global survey, McKinsey reported that workflow redesign had the largest effect among 25 tested organizational attributes on an organization’s ability to see EBIT impact from generative AI. The analysis is an association, not a causal finding: it does not show that redesign by itself produced the reported impact. In the same survey, 21% of respondents whose organizations used gen AI said their organizations had fundamentally redesigned at least some workflows.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
AI use is more common than reported enterprise scaling
McKinsey’s November 2025 survey reported that 88% of respondents said their organizations regularly used AI in at least one business function. Approximately one-third said their organizations had begun scaling AI programs, and 39% reported enterprise-level EBIT impact from AI. These are respondent-reported findings, not a census of all companies. They show a gap in the survey between broad reported use and reported scaling or enterprise-level impact, but they do not establish why that gap exists.
Together, these findings support examining the organization around an AI system, not just the system itself. They do not show that every manual workflow should be automated, or that every company must redesign a process to gain value. Nor do they establish Maskoun’s claim that “most” AI strategies fail founders as a measured fact. That part of the argument is his opinion, not a conclusion proven by these survey results.
How can you find a process worth rethinking?
Start with a process that is slow, repeated, and important enough that improving its outcome would matter. A recurring report, an approval chain, or a queue of routine customer questions may be worth examining, but the visible task is only a starting clue. The delay may come from unclear ownership, missing information, or an unnecessary handoff rather than from the task itself.
Recommended Free Tools
- Choose a specific process. Name the trigger and the finish line. “Customer support” is too broad; “a customer asks for a refund and receives a decision” is easier to trace. Avoid combining different cases if they follow different rules.
- Write down what happens now. Trace the real sequence from start to finish: who does each task, what information they use, where work waits, and when it returns for correction. Include the handoffs and exception cases, not only the steps in a tidy procedure document.
- Ask what each step is for. Is it producing a decision, checking accuracy, meeting a requirement, preventing a loss, giving a customer recourse, or simply passing information to another person? A step whose purpose is unclear deserves investigation, but unclear purpose is not proof that it is safe to remove.
- Find the constraint. Compare active work time with waiting, rework, and repeated information entry. If an approval waits several days, for instance, determine whether the delay comes from a genuine decision, missing context, or a queue that no one owns. AI may not address the actual constraint.
- Set a baseline and a target. Pick a small number of measures tied to the process: end-to-end completion time, error or rework rate, resolution quality, cost, or another outcome relevant to the business. Record the current result and decide what improvement would justify the change. Task speed alone may be an incomplete measure.
- Design the smallest useful change. Decide which work AI might perform, which steps could be removed or combined, who owns the result, and how exceptions reach a person. Specify what the system may decide or send and what needs review before a test begins.
- Test against the original process. Use a limited scope and compare the redesigned workflow with the baseline using the agreed measures. Look at errors, exceptions, and downstream work as well as average completion time. A successful demonstration is not the same as reliable performance in routine operations.
- Review before expanding. Check whether the revised flow is delivering the intended outcome for the cases it handles. Adjust it, restore a necessary control, or stop if quality or risk worsens. Expand only when the people responsible for the process can operate and monitor the new flow.
When should a manual step stay?
A step should not disappear merely because a model can perform a related task. Some manual checks exist to handle consequential decisions, verify facts, catch unusual cases, or meet compliance and safety obligations. Whether a particular check is required depends on the business and its circumstances; the general principle is to identify the function before changing the step.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Keep judgment where the case demands it
Routine cases may follow a clear rule, while unusual or ambiguous cases need human judgment. A redesign can route the routine cases differently and reserve review for defined exceptions, but the company needs to specify what counts as an exception and who receives it. Otherwise, automation may make unusual cases less visible rather than resolving the underlying work.
Preserve controls that protect people and the business
Before removing a review or approval, determine whether it prevents a material error, confirms authority, protects confidential information, or supports a regulatory or contractual obligation. An approval that feels slow may be poorly designed, but deleting it without replacing its control function can trade delay for exposure. If the purpose or requirement is uncertain, clarify it with the relevant owner before changing the workflow.
Make escalation part of the design
Human review should be an intentional route, not an improvised fallback. Decide what information the reviewer needs, how quickly the exception should be handled, and what happens if the system cannot complete the task. Track how often cases escalate and why; recurring exceptions may indicate that the process, rules, or underlying data need further work.
What does a good result look like beyond a successful pilot?
A pilot can show that a workflow works for a narrow set of cases under close attention. It cannot, by itself, show that a wider rollout will retain the same quality, that employees will use the changed process as intended, or that the business impact will persist. Treat pilot success as a reason to examine scaling readiness, not as proof of it.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Measure the redesigned process from the point where work begins to the point where the intended result is delivered. Depending on the task, useful measures might include completion time, errors, rework, customer resolution, cost, or revenue. Choose measures that reflect the process’s purpose, and watch for trade-offs: faster completion is not an improvement if it creates more corrections, unresolved cases, or avoidable risk.
Assign an owner who can respond when the workflow behaves differently from expectations. That person should be able to review exceptions, understand changes in outcomes, and pause or adjust the process when necessary. Scaling also requires the people doing the work to know what has changed and what remains their responsibility. These are practical operating recommendations, not reported findings from McKinsey’s surveys.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the founder’s practical test?
Use Maskoun’s question as a prompt: “What’s one process in your business that should disappear? Not speed up, but disappear?” Then test the premise rather than treating it as a mandate. Map the process, identify why each step exists, distinguish routine work from judgment and control, define the result that would count as better, and test a change against that baseline.
If the redesign removes needless waiting or repeated work while preserving a reliable route for exceptions, it may be more valuable than attaching AI to the old sequence. If the process exists to protect a customer, meet an obligation, or make a consequential decision, the right change may be to improve or narrow that step—not erase it.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does McKinsey’s 39% figure mean AI increased EBIT by 39%?
No. It means 39% of respondents in McKinsey’s November 2025 survey reported enterprise-level EBIT impact from AI; it is not a reported 39% increase in EBIT.
Does the survey prove that workflow redesign causes AI returns?
No. McKinsey’s March 2025 result describes an association between organizational attributes and reported gen-AI EBIT impact. It does not isolate redesign as the cause of that impact.
Can a small startup use these survey findings as a forecast?
Not reliably. The figures summarize what respondents said about their organizations, and the available data does not establish a startup-specific forecast or outcome.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
