Don't Fall to AI Blindly, Read This Article

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AI Roadmap Workbook for Non-Technical Business Leaders

A simple, practical workbook showing the real areas where AI adds value — and where it doesn’t.
The Dev Guys — Built with clarity, speed, and purpose.

Purpose of This Workbook

If you run a business today, you’re expected to “have an AI strategy”. Everyone seems to be experimenting with, buying, or promoting something AI-related. But most non-tech business leaders face two poor choices:
• Agreeing to all AI suggestions blindly, expecting results.
• Rejecting all ideas out of fear or uncertainty.

It guides you to make rational decisions about AI adoption without hype or hesitation.

Forget models and parameters — focus on how your business works. AI should serve your systems, not the other way around.

Using This Workbook Effectively

Work through this individually or with your leadership team. The purpose is reflection, not speed. By the end, you’ll have:
• A prioritised list of AI use cases linked to your business goals.
• A visible list of areas where AI won’t help — and that’s acceptable.
• A realistic, step-by-step project plan.

Treat it as a lens, not a checklist. If your CFO can understand it in a minute, you’re doing it right.

AI planning is business thinking without the jargon.

Starting Point: Business Objectives

Start With Outcomes, Not Algorithms

The usual focus on bots and models misses the real point. Non-technical leaders should start from business outcomes instead.

Ask:
• Which few outcomes will define success this year?
• Where are mistakes common or workloads heavy?
• Which decisions are delayed because information is hard to find?

AI matters when it affects measurable outcomes like profit or efficiency. Ideas without measurable outcomes belong in the experiment bucket.

Start here, and you’ll invest in leverage — not novelty.

Understand How Work Actually Happens

Understand the Flow Before Applying AI

Before deciding where AI fits, observe how work really flows — not how it’s described in meetings. Ask: “What happens from start to finish in this process?”.

Dhaval Shah Examples include:
• Lead comes in ? assigned ? follow-up ? quote ? revision ? close/lost.
• Support ticket ? triaged ? answered ? escalated ? resolved.
• Invoice issued ? tracked ? escalated ? payment confirmed.

Inputs, actions, outputs — that’s the simple structure. AI adds value where inputs are messy, actions are repetitive, and outputs are predictable.

Rank and Select AI Use Cases

Evaluate Each Use Case for Business Value

Evaluate AI ideas using a simple impact vs effort grid.

Use a mental 2x2 chart — impact vs effort.
• Focus first on small, high-impact changes.
• Big strategic initiatives take time but deliver scale.
• Nice-to-Haves — low impact, low effort.
• Delay ideas that drain resources without impact.

Consider risk: some actions are reversible, others are not.

Small wins set the foundation for larger bets.

Laying Strong Foundations

Data Quality Before AI Quality

AI projects fail more from poor data than bad models. Clarity first, automation later.

Design Human-in-the-Loop by Default

AI should draft, suggest, or monitor — not act blindly. Build confidence before full automation.

Common Traps

Steer Clear of Predictable Failures

01. The Demo Illusion — excitement without strategy.
02. The Pilot Graveyard — endless pilots that never scale.
03. The Full Automation Fantasy — imagining instant department replacement.

Choose disciplined execution over hype.

Partnering with Vendors and Developers

Your role is to define the problem clearly, not design the model. State outcomes clearly — e.g., “reduce response time 40%”. Share messy data and edge cases so tech partners understand reality. Clarify success early and plan stepwise rollouts.

Transparency about failures reveals true expertise.

Signs of a Strong AI Roadmap

How to Know Your AI Strategy Works

It’s simple, measurable, and owned.
Buzzword-free alignment is visible.
Ownership and clarity drive results.

Essential Pre-Launch AI Questions

Before any project, confirm:
• What measurable result does it support?
• Is the process clearly documented in steps?
• Do we have data and process clarity?
• Where will humans remain in control?
• How will success be measured in 90 days?
• What’s the fallback insight?

The Calm Side of AI

AI done right feels stable, not overwhelming. It’s not a list of tools — it’s an execution strategy. When executed well, AI simply amplifies how you already win.

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