AI Readiness Assessment
Seven-dimension evaluation framework. 15-20 minutes to determine if an organization is ready for AI adoption, and what to fix first.
How It Works
Seven dimensions. Each gets a letter grade (A-F). The overall grade is the lowest of the seven. A firm is only as ready as its weakest dimension. Takes 15-20 minutes to assess through conversation.
This is not a sales tool. It is a diagnostic. If the assessment reveals the organization is not ready, the honest response is to say so and recommend what to fix first. Your reputation is the product.
The Seven Dimensions
1. Documents
How does this organization produce, receive, and store documents today?
A: Digital-first. Central document management. Consistent naming. Searchable.
B: Mostly digital. Server-based with folders. Some inconsistency but generally organized.
C: Mixed. Some digital, some paper. Multiple disconnected systems.
D: Paper-heavy. Filing cabinets. Scanned images with no OCR.
F: No system. Documents live on individual desktops, in email, or in boxes.
2. People
Is there buy-in, and from whom?
A: Leadership is engaged. An internal champion exists who will own adoption. Team is curious.
B: Leadership supportive. One person driving this. Team is open but busy.
C: One person interested. Leadership aware but not engaged. Team neutral.
D: The driver is not in the room. Leadership skeptical. Team resistant to change.
F: Nobody in the firm asked for this. Vendor-pushed or external pressure only.
3. Process
Are their workflows defined enough to automate?
A: Written SOPs. Checklists. Templates. QC procedures documented and followed.
B: Informal but consistent. Senior staff follow the same steps. Trainable.
C: Tribal knowledge. It works, but it is in people's heads. Different people do it differently.
D: Ad-hoc. No repeatability. Every project is handled uniquely.
F: Chaos. No defined workflows. Firefighting mode.
4. Infrastructure
Can they run the tools?
A: Modern hardware. IT support. Willing to run local tools. Admin access available.
B: Decent hardware. No dedicated IT but technically capable staff.
C: Mixed hardware quality. No IT. Would need hand-holding on setup.
D: Old machines. Locked-down corporate IT. Months-long approval process.
F: Thin clients, Chromebooks, or fully cloud-locked environment with no local compute option.
5. Intent
What are they actually trying to accomplish?
A: Specific pain point. Measurable goal. Realistic timeline. Willing to invest.
B: Clear problem area. Open to scoping. Budget conversation is productive.
C: General interest in "AI" but no specific target. Needs help focusing.
D: Wants AI to "do everything." No workflow specificity. Looking for magic.
F: Wants AI to replace professional judgment on stamped work. Or wants free solution for enterprise problems.
6. Data Governance
Is their data managed, or just stored?
A: Naming conventions enforced. Access controls in place. Retention policies. Data classified by sensitivity.
B: Informal standards that most people follow. Some access controls. Regular backups.
C: No naming conventions. Shared drives with open access. Backups exist but untested.
D: Duplicate files everywhere. No version control. No access controls.
F: No awareness that data governance is a thing. Sensitive data mixed with general files.
7. Interoperability
Can their systems talk to each other?
A: Systems integrated. Data flows between tools without manual re-entry.
B: Some integration. Manual handoffs between 1-2 systems.
C: Siloed tools. Separate systems with no connection. Manual data re-entry between them.
D: Single-tool firm. Everything in one platform (or Excel). No concept of system integration.
F: Tools actively conflict. Incompatible formats. No interest in standardization.
Overall Grade
The overall grade is the lowest single dimension. A firm with A/A/A/A/D is a D. One weak link breaks the chain.
| Grade | Meaning | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| A | Ready now | Move to workflow scoring and full engagement proposal |
| B | Ready with minor prep | Identify the gap, include a prep phase in the proposal |
| C | Conditionally ready | Be honest. Recommend what they fix first. Re-assess in 3-6 months. |
| D | Not ready | Educate. Provide a readiness checklist. Do not sell an engagement they will fail at. |
| F | Walk away | Politely decline. Refer to a different service if appropriate. |
After the Assessment
A or B overall: Move directly into the scored workflow process. Map workflows, score on Clarity/Reach/Value/Feasibility, build the roadmap.
C overall: Deliver the assessment as a standalone deliverable. List what needs to change. Offer a follow-up assessment at no additional cost once they have addressed the gaps.
D or F overall: Do not take the engagement. It is better to turn down work than deliver something that fails because the foundation was not there.
Find out where you stand
The AI Readiness Assessment takes 15-20 minutes. Honest evaluation, no sales pressure.
Request an Assessment