Get the guide

The Question Before the Tool

Five things to decide before your organisation adopts AI

The Question Before the Tool is a free guide by Ryo Leong for SME and social service leaders. It sets out five decisions to make before adopting AI: the business problem, the workflow and its owner, what your people gain and fear, the story you will tell, and how you will measure success at 90 days.

Why start with a question

Your team already has AI tools. The harder part is deciding what they should change. BCG advises leaders to put 70% of AI transformation effort into people and processes (BCG, The Leader’s Guide to Transforming with AI, 2024). These five questions sit in that 70%.

The five questions (open summary)

  1. What business problem are we solving, in one sentence? Name who feels it, what goes wrong, and what it costs.
  2. Which workflow will change, and who owns it? Map the steps, mark where AI helps, and name one owner.
  3. What will our people gain, and what are they afraid of losing? Ask before you decide.
  4. What story will we tell our staff, board and customers about why? Give each audience its own version.
  5. How will we know it worked in 90 days? Set one business measure and one people measure.

What the full guide adds

Worked examples for SMEs and social service organisations, a “try this” exercise for each question, and a one-page summary to complete with your leadership team.

Get the full guide

I will email you the guide, and occasional updates, no more than twice a month. Unsubscribe at any time.