Intended result and problem
Establish whether the intended result matters, the customer or operating problem is supported, and the initiative can plausibly change it.
Primary service / Independent opinion
Independent Initiative Review
A written independent opinion on whether the evidence for one consequential AI or software initiative supports the next commitment and what conditions should govern it.
- Scope
- One initiative / one defined decision
- Timing
- Usually 5–10 working days
- Fee range
- $8,000–$15,000
The decision
Does the evidence available now justify this commitment, and which conditions should govern it?
Commission the review when approval, funding, production, scale, continuation, restructuring, pause, or closure is due. Its scope is one initiative, not the company's entire strategy or future prospects.
The decision owner receives an opinion, any conditions attached to it, and records of the decisive assumptions, credible alternatives, exposure, and material disagreement. The conclusion does not depend on approval.
Decisions covered
Decisions this service can address.
- 01
Should the company approve this AI product investment?
- 02
Does the pilot evidence justify production in additional markets?
- 03
Should the board release another funding tranche for the delayed platform programme?
- 04
Does the software rebuild justify its scope, or should the commitment be staged?
- 05
Should an investor support the portfolio company's product reset or recovery plan?
- 06
Does the current case support continuation, restructuring, a pause, or closure?
Scope of review
What the service examines.
The work stays tied to the defined commitment. Its depth depends on the available evidence and the exposure involved.
Product and technology fit
Assess whether the proposed mechanism, system, and technical capability fit the task under ordinary operating conditions.
Demand and adoption evidence
Examine what customers or internal users have done, committed, paid for, or changed, with the limits of stated preference made clear.
Economics and resources
Review the full delivery and operating cost, resource model, expected return, and any omitted work that changes the economics.
Delivery conditions
Check team capacity, data, integration, vendor dependencies, delivery sequence, accountability, and how early failure can be detected.
Exposure and alternatives
Set out potential consequences, weak evidence, discovery delay, difficulty of reversal, and credible alternatives to full approval.
Deliverables
What the decision owner receives.
Review opinion
A conclusion to proceed, add conditions, stage, rework, pause, or stop under the current case.
Decision and assumption record
The decision, intended result, requested commitment, material assumptions, available evidence, and named owners.
Exposure and conditions register
Material exposure to loss, delay, dependency, or lock-in, with observable conditions for the next commitment.
Decision record
A concise leadership and board record of what was reviewed, excluded, disputed, decided, and assigned.
Access and limits
What the service needs, and what it excludes.
What is required
- A specific decision, deadline, and requested commitment
- A named decision owner and authorised sponsor
- One bounded initiative
- Access to the relevant documents, data, and stakeholders
- Permission to record material disagreement and reach an unfavourable conclusion
Not included
- Implementation delivery or programme management
- Source-code review, penetration testing, or security certification
- Financial audit, legal opinion, regulatory certification, or investment advice
- General strategy, coaching, recruitment, or pitch-deck preparation
Related services