AI Development Economics Framework™
A structured way to evaluate the cost, risk, and return of AI initiatives — before you invest, not after.
The Problem
Most organisations approach AI adoption with enthusiasm but without a consistent way to weigh it up. Initiatives get funded on momentum rather than merit, and it’s often only after significant spend that the real costs, risks, and returns become clear.
What the Framework Does
The AI Development Economics Framework™ gives leaders a structured, repeatable way to assess AI initiatives across the factors that actually determine whether they’re worth pursuing:
- Cost — development, integration, ongoing operation, and the true total cost of ownership
- Risk — technical risk, governance and compliance exposure, and organisational readiness
- Return — realistic, evidence-based expectations of value, not vendor projections
- Timing — whether now is the right time to invest, or whether the groundwork needs to happen first
Who It’s For
Leaders and teams who need to decide:
- Which AI initiatives to fund, and which to defer
- How to sequence AI adoption across an organisation
- How to justify (or challenge) an AI investment case
- How to compare AI initiatives against traditional technology investments
How Engagements Work
Discovery
Understand the initiatives under consideration and the organisational context.
Assessment
Apply the framework to evaluate cost, risk, return, and timing.
Recommendation
Deliver a clear, evidence-based view on which initiatives to pursue, and how.
Ongoing Support
Revisit the assessment as initiatives progress and conditions change.
Start the Conversation
If you’re weighing up an AI investment decision, the best place to begin is a conversation.