1. Governance Model¶
Purpose
Definition of the decision-making structures, roles and oversight layers that steer AI projects safely and effectively.
1. Objective¶
Defining the decision-making structures, roles and responsibilities to steer AI projects safely and effectively.
DORA: clear AI stance amplifies adoption outcomes [so-28]
The DORA AI Capabilities Model (2025) shows that a clear and communicated AI stance is the most important organisational capability for successful AI adoption. It provides psychological safety for experimentation and amplifies individual effectiveness, organisational performance and throughput. Governance is not a brake but an accelerator. See External Evidence: DORA.
2. Structure¶
The governance model consists of three layers that work together to connect strategy, operations and technology:
- Strategic Level: Focus on vision and Cost Overview.
- Operational Level: Focus on execution and priority.
- Technical Level: Focus on quality and Go-live.
3. Responsibilities¶
| Role | Level | Core Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| CAIO (Chief AI Officer) | Strategic | Strategy, ROI oversight, Governance ultimate accountability. |
| Executive Committee | Strategic | Budget approval, strategic alignment. |
| AI Product Manager | Operational | Use case priority, Stakeholder management, Backlog owner. |
| AI Transformation Office | Operational | Process oversight, standardisation, training. |
| Data Scientist | Technical | Model development, validation, experimentation. |
| ML Engineering | Technical | Go-live pipelines, monitoring, infrastructure. |
| Guardian | Supporting | Safeguards all boundaries: Fairness Audits, Compliance checks, ethical review. |
| Security Officer | Supporting | Security measures, Privacy safeguarding. |
4. Decision-Making Process (Gate Model)¶
flowchart TD
A["🟢 Initiative\nIdea or business case"] --> B{"Gate 1\nProblem clear?\nData available?"}
B -->|"✅ Go"| C["Phase 2: Validation\nRun validation pilot"]
B -->|"❌ No Go"| X["⏹ Stop"]
C --> D{"Gate 2\nInvestment Decision\nBusiness case approved?"}
D -->|"✅ Go"| E["Phase 3: Realisation\nBuild production-ready"]
D -->|"❌ No Go"| X
E --> F{"Gate 3\nProduction-Ready?\nAll tests passed?"}
F -->|"✅ Go"| G["Phase 4: Management\n& Optimisation"]
F -->|"❌ No Go"| X
G --> H{"Gate 4\nQuarterly Review\nContinue?"}
H -->|"✅ Yes"| A
H -->|"❌ No"| I["Closure"]5. Gate Reviews¶
Each gate acts as a hard stop/go decision. See the Gate Review Checklist for specific criteria per phase.