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Practical AI Roadmap Workbook for Business Executives

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.

The Need for This Workbook

In today’s business world, leaders are often told they must have an AI strategy. AI discussions are happening everywhere—from vendors to competitors. But many non-technical leaders are caught between extremes:
• Saying “yes” to every vendor or internal idea, hoping some of it will succeed.
• Saying “no” to everything because it feels risky or confusing.

It provides a third, smarter path — a clear, grounded way to find genuine AI opportunities.

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

Using This Workbook Effectively

You can complete this alone or with your management team. The aim isn’t to finish quickly but to think clearly. By the end, you’ll have:
• Clear AI ideas that truly affect your P&L.
• Recognition of where AI adds no value — and that’s okay.
• A structured sequence of projects instead of random pilots.

Think of it as a guide, not a form. Your AI plan should be simple enough to explain in one meeting.

AI strategy equals good business logic, simply expressed.

Step 1 — Business First

Focus on Goals Before Tools

Too often, leaders ask about tools instead of outcomes — that’s the wrong start. Start with measurable goals that truly impact your business.

Ask:
• What 3–5 business results truly matter 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.

Step 2 — See the Work

Map Workflows, Not Tools

Before deciding where AI fits, observe how work really flows — not how it’s described in meetings. Pose one question: “What happens between X starting and Y completing?”.

Examples include:
• Lead comes in ? assigned ? follow-up ? quote ? revision ? close/lost.
• Support ticket ? triaged ? answered ? escalated ? resolved.
• Invoice generated ? sent ? reminded ? paid.

Each step has three parts: inputs, actions, outputs. AI adds value where inputs are messy, actions are repetitive, and outputs are predictable.

Rank and Select AI Use Cases

Assess Opportunities with a Clear Framework

Evaluate AI ideas using a simple impact vs effort grid.

Use a mental 2x2 chart — impact vs effort.
• Quick Wins — high impact, low effort.
• Reserve resources for strategic investments.
• Minor experiments — do only if supporting larger goals.
• Delay ideas that drain resources without impact.

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

Begin with low-risk, high-impact projects that build confidence.

Balancing Systems and People

Fix the Foundations Before You Blame the Model

Without clean systems, AI will mirror your chaos. Ask yourself: Is the data 70–80% Dhaval Shah complete? Are processes well defined?.

Keep Humans in Control

Keep people in the decision loop. Over time, increase automation responsibly.

The 3 Classic Mistakes

Avoid the Three AI Traps for Non-Tech Leaders

01. The Shiny Demo Trap — getting impressed by flashy demos with no purpose.
02. The Pilot Problem — learning without impact.
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%”. Expose real examples, not just ideal scenarios. Clarify success early and plan stepwise rollouts.

Transparency about failures reveals true expertise.

Signs of a Strong AI Roadmap

Signs Your AI Roadmap Is Actually Healthy

You can summarise it in one slide linked to metrics.
Your team discusses workflows and outcomes, not hype.
Pilots have owners, success criteria, and CFO buy-in.

The Non-Tech Leader’s AI Roadmap Checklist

Before any project, confirm:
• Which business metric does this improve?
• Which workflow is involved, and can it be described simply?
• Is the data complete enough for repetition?
• Who owns the human oversight?
• What is the 3-month metric?
• If it fails, what valuable lesson remains?

Conclusion

AI should make your business calmer, clearer, and more controlled — not noisier or chaotic. It’s not a list of tools — it’s an execution strategy. True AI integration supports your business invisibly.

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