EXECUTIVE FIELD GUIDE
AI Pilot Scale-or-Stop Gate
Enterprise AI sponsors and investment committees
The decision challenge
Technically successful pilots are scaled without proof of operational value.
Executive takeaway
Require workflow, outcome, reliability, control and economic evidence before scale.
The checklist
- Define business task and owner
- Agree baseline and credible alternative
- Set outcome and failure thresholds
- Test representative users and failure modes
- Confirm privacy and compliance readiness
- Estimate recurring costs
- Record scale, redesign or stop decision
Decision framework
Working framework
Gate | Evidence required | Actual result | Owner | Status | Remaining gap. Gates: Workflow, Outcome, Reliability, Controls, Economics. Scale only if mandatory controls pass and benefits justify costs.
Decision rule
Document the accountable owner, evidence and next review date before closing the decision.
In practice
Illustrative use: A drafting assistant reduces initial writing time but increases review effort. Compare net end-to-end value with simpler process changes.
The views I share are my own and do not represent those of my employer.
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The views I share are my own and do not represent those of my employer.