General and Operations Managers
Also called: manager, operations, general, business manager, center manager
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Review financial statements, sales or activity reports, or other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing general and operations managers work
2 of 9 main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use so far) — 22% when main tasks are weighted. This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Review financial statements, sales or activity reports, or other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Direct administrative activities directly related to making products or providing services (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare staff work schedules and assign specific duties (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Plan or direct activities (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Perform staff functions (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Establish or put in place departmental policies, goals, objectives, or procedures in conjunction with board members, organization officials, or staff members (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Monitor suppliers to make sure that they efficiently and effectively provide needed goods or services within budgetary limits (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Set prices or credit terms for goods or services, based on forecasts of customer demand — some recorded AI use
- Develop or put in place product-marketing strategies — some recorded AI use
- Manage the movement of goods into and out of production facilities to make sure efficiency, effectiveness, or sustainability of operations — no recorded AI use
- Perform sales floor work — no recorded AI use
- Direct non-merchandising departments of businesses — no recorded AI use
- Put in place or oversee environmental management or sustainability programs addressing issues such as recycling, conservation, or waste management — no recorded AI use
- Plan store layouts or design displays — no recorded AI use
- Recommend locations for new facilities, or oversee the remodeling or renovating of current facilities — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Review financial statements, sales or activity reports, or other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement”. Try the prompt for: “Direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency”.
- Weeks 3–4: Make it a habit. Use AI 3 times a week for 15 minutes. Always check facts, numbers and names yourself.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and general and operations managers
Will AI replace general and operations managers?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 2 of the 9 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use so far). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 13 of the 17 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which manager tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: review financial statements, sales or activity reports, or other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement; direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency; set prices or credit terms for goods or services, based on forecasts of customer demand.
Which manager tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products; direct administrative activities directly related to making products or providing services; prepare staff work schedules and assign specific duties. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 36% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a manager start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.