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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.

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 business heads often struggle between two bad decisions:
• Accepting every proposal and hoping it works out.
• Rejecting all ideas out of fear or uncertainty.

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

You don’t need to understand AI models or algorithms — just your workflows, data, and decisions. 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 strategy is just business strategy — minus the buzzwords.

Starting Point: Business Objectives

Start With Outcomes, Not Algorithms

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

Ask:
• Which few outcomes will define success 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. If an idea doesn’t tie to these, it’s not a roadmap — it’s just an experiment.

Leaders who skip this step collect shiny tools; those who follow it build lasting leverage.

Understand How Work Actually Happens

Visualise the Process, Not the Platform

Before deciding where AI fits, observe how work really flows — not how it’s described in meetings. Simply document every step from beginning to end.

Examples include:
• Lead comes in ? assigned ? follow-up ? quote ? revision ? close/lost.
• Customer issue logged ? categorised ? responded ? closed.
• Invoice generated ? sent ? reminded ? paid.

Inputs, actions, outputs — that’s the simple structure. Ideal AI zones: messy inputs, repeatable steps, consistent outputs.

Step 3 — Prioritise

Assess Opportunities with a Clear Framework

Evaluate AI ideas using a simple impact vs effort grid.

Map your ideas to see where to start.
• Focus first on small, high-impact changes.
• Strategic Bets — high impact, high effort.
• Minor experiments — do only if supporting larger goals.
• Delay ideas that drain resources without impact.

Add risk as a filter: where can AI act safely, and where must humans approve?.

Small wins set the foundation for larger bets.

Laying Strong Foundations

Fix the Foundations Before You Blame the Model

Messy data ruins good AI; fix the base first. Clarity first, automation later.

Keep Humans in Control

AI should draft, suggest, or monitor — not act blindly. Over time, increase automation responsibly.

Common Traps

Learn from Others’ Missteps

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.

Define ownership, success, and rollout paths early.

Working with Experts

Frame problems, don’t build algorithms. 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

Signs Your AI Roadmap Is Actually Healthy

You can full stack product engineering summarise it in one slide linked to metrics.
Your focus remains on business, not tools.
Finance understands why these projects exist.

The Non-Tech Leader’s AI Roadmap Checklist

Before any project, confirm:
• Which business metric does this improve?
• Is the process clearly documented in steps?
• Is the data complete enough for repetition?
• Where will humans remain in control?
• How will success be measured in 90 days?
• What’s the fallback insight?

The Calm Side of AI

Good AI brings order, not confusion. Focus on leverage, not hype. When executed well, AI simply amplifies how you already win.