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AI Roadmap Workbook for Non-Technical Business Leaders

A clear, hype-free workbook showing where AI can actually help your business — and where it won’t.
Dev Guys Team — Smart thinking. Simple execution. Fast delivery.

Why This Workbook Exists

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 business heads often struggle between two bad decisions:
• Accepting every proposal and hoping it works out.
• Declining AI entirely because of confusion or doubt.

This workbook offers a balanced third option: a calm, realistic way to identify where AI truly fits in your business — and where it doesn’t.

You don’t need to understand AI models or algorithms — just your workflows, data, and decisions. AI is simply a tool built on top of those foundations.

Best Way to Apply This Workbook

Either fill it solo or discuss it collaboratively. It’s not about completion — it’s about clarity. By the end, you’ll have:
• A short list of meaningful AI opportunities tied to profit or efficiency.
• Understanding of where AI should not be used.
• A clear order of initiatives instead of scattered trials.

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

AI strategy is just business strategy — minus the buzzwords.

Step One — Focus on Business Goals

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 processes are slowed by scattered information?

AI is valuable only when it moves key metrics — revenue, margins, time, or risk. Ideas without measurable outcomes belong in the experiment bucket.

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

Understand How Work Actually Happens

Map Workflows, Not Tools

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?”.

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

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

Assess Opportunities with a Clear Framework

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.

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% complete? Are processes well defined?.

Human Oversight Builds Trust

Let AI assist, not replace, your team. 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

Frame problems, don’t build algorithms. State outcomes clearly — e.g., “reduce response time 40%”. Share RAG 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

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?
• Do we have data and process clarity?
• Where will humans remain in control?
• What is the 3-month metric?
• What’s the fallback insight?

Conclusion

Good AI brings order, not confusion. 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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