Why Must an Organization's Ways of Working Be Aligned with Its Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Strategic Goals?

If an organization declares that it will change its strategy but demands that employees achieve performance in the exact same way as yesterday, what is the actual strategy? Microsoft's work trends report, released in May 2026, illustrates this question with concrete numbers. Among AI-using workers surveyed, 45% responded that it was safer to focus on existing goals than to redesign work with AI, and only 13% responded that they would be rewarded for attempting to work redesign via AI even if output goals were not met. In short, there is a gap between stating a new direction and creating the conditions to act in that direction. These figures are based on a survey of 20,000 workers using AI across 10 markets, including the US and Japan, conducted from February 18 to April 20, 2026. South Korea was not included in the surveyed markets, and the findings measure the work environment as percei…