AI operating model
Roles, decision rights, governance, and a practical cadence — so AI work doesn’t live in a lab or a slide deck.
- Mid-market firms (≈50–500 people) starting their first serious AI investments
- Firms whose AI pilots have stalled at the working-group stage
- Leadership teams that want a durable cadence, not a one-off retreat
- Pure tech-stack selection — we work upstream of vendor choice
- Firms that want a 200-page deliverable rather than working scaffolding
- Single-team enablement (we operate at the firm level)
What does an AI operating model actually look like for a mid-market firm?
A short charter (1–2 pages) that names accountable owners by domain, a decision matrix for the four or five recurring AI choices (build vs. buy, vendor selection, data access, deployment scope), an executive review cadence (monthly is plenty), and a governance posture appropriate to the firm’s risk tier. Not a binder.
How long does it take and who needs to be in the room?
Six to ten weeks. Required: the CEO or managing partner, the COO or executive director, the technology lead, and one practice or revenue lead. Useful: legal/risk, head of HR or talent. We compress the calendar by running structured workshops, not interview tours.
How is this different from what a Big Four firm would deliver?
Big Four delivers an enterprise-shaped framework. We deliver a model your firm can run on Monday — which usually means 70% less surface area and a sharper set of ownership decisions. We also embed during the first two execution cycles so the model is tested under real load, not just printed.
Frequently asked
- Do you replace our internal team?
- No. We design the operating model with your team and embed alongside them. By the end of the engagement, your people own the cadence — we leave you steadier, not dependent.
- What if we already have an AI committee?
- We often start there. Most committees lack decision rights, a clear vendor and data posture, and an executive review rhythm. The engagement reshapes the committee’s charter rather than replacing it.
- How do you measure success?
- Three measurable outcomes: (1) decisions actually made on a defined cadence, (2) initiatives moved from pilot to production with clear owners, (3) leadership confidence in the firm’s AI posture (we measure this with a structured survey before and after).
Related
- AI advisory for mid-market law firms
- Portfolio & prioritization — A way to choose what ships next — balancing risk, value, readiness, and organisational capacity.
- Product & delivery support — We work alongside your teams as the work becomes real — shaping scope, unblocking decisions, keeping quality intact.
- Executive advisory — A steady partner for complex terrain — governance, vendors, capability building, and the hard calls that don’t fit a template.