Skip to main content

Strategic Foresight LLC · An independent Oklahoma research and decision-intelligence firmOklahoma City, Oklahoma

Request a briefing

Tool or product

AI Investment Governance Kit

The executive why, a pilot stage-gate platform, and real-options / ROI models.

Early AccessHighest Value
An aerial tightrope walker over a forest

What it is

The executive why, a pilot stage-gate platform, and real-options / ROI models.

Early Access: not functional yet

This product is proposed or in development. You can request a conversation, but there is nothing to log in to or buy today.

01 The problem

AI commitments can outrun the evidence for their economics and assurance.

02 Who it is for

Management consultants doing AI strategy and their client leadership teams.

03 What is included

  • Executive deck
  • Pilot stage-gate platform
  • Real-options / ROI spreadsheet models

05 Decision tree: evidence to go, hold, redesign or stop

Illustrative walkthrough of the stage-gate logic. Your answers are not stored or sent.

Question 1

Is there evidence measured against acceptance criteria agreed before the pilot began?

Pre-agreed acceptance criteria and evidence quality.

Text equivalent of the decision tree
  • No pre-agreed evidence: Hold.
  • Evidence, but benefits do not exceed costs: if a change could close the gap, Redesign; if not, Stop.
  • Benefits exceed costs but owners, assurance or exit options are missing: Redesign.
  • Benefits exceed costs and owners, assurance and exit options exist: Go.

06 Illustrative examples

Illustrative, not empirical

Every figure, duration and share below is a demonstration value. None is a research finding or a promise of results.
  1. G0Discover
    1 week
  2. G1Value case
    2 weeks
  3. G2Pilot
    6 weeks
  4. G3Assurance
    2 weeks
  5. G4Scale review
    1 week

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.

Illustrative durations only. Gate criteria and timings must be agreed for each engagement.

  1. Is the evidence adequate?
    NoHold and resolve the uncertainty
    YesContinue to the next question
  2. Is there a credible value case?
    NoHold and resolve the uncertainty
    YesContinue to the next question
  3. Can the next commitment be reversed?
    NoHold and resolve the uncertainty
    YesProceed to a documented gate decision
Default action: Hold and resolve the uncertainty. Advance only after a named owner records the gate judgment.

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.

Illustrative portfolio allocation100%
Core: 70% — illustrative allocation70%
Core

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.

Adjacent: 20% — illustrative allocation20%
Adjacent

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.

New: 10% — illustrative allocation10%
New

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.

Illustrative planning shares, not a forecast or a recommended allocation.
Horizon 1 · Core: 70% — illustrative allocation70%
Horizon 1 · Core

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.

Horizon 2 · Adjacent: 20% — illustrative allocation20%
Horizon 2 · Adjacent

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.

Horizon 3 · New: 10% — illustrative allocation10%
Horizon 3 · New

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.

Illustrative three-year total: Build 35%, Run 65%3-year totalBuild / Run
Build 35% · Run 65%

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.

$4.1M

One-time build

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.

29 months

Payback

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.

Governance checklist (illustrative)

Evidence before expansion

Define the decision, the baseline and the evidence needed before funding a larger commitment. Distinguish a convincing demonstration from repeatable performance in the environment where people will use the system.

Owner: Sponsor — to be assigned
Metric: Evidence criteria agreed

People and accountability

Name a decision owner and involve the people whose work will change. Test training, handoffs and exception handling, rather than assuming that a tool alone creates a sustainable operating capability.

Owner: Operational lead — to be assigned
Metric: Handoffs tested

Technical flexibility

Keep interfaces, data access and procurement choices adaptable. Examine switching costs and rollback options so that a pilot can generate useful learning without making the next investment decision unavoidable.

Owner: Technical lead — to be assigned
Metric: Exit option documented

Governance at each gate

Review quality, security and accountability alongside the value case. Record remaining uncertainties and the indicators that would justify stopping, changing direction or advancing to the next stage of investment.

Owner: Risk lead — to be assigned
Metric: Gate judgment recorded

Illustrative — not an empirical estimate. Source: demonstration assumptions.