Marc PaulDecision Integrity Practice

When to commission a review

Commission a review before the next commitment closes off alternatives.

The service fits a defined AI or software decision with a named owner, a deadline, evidence to examine, and material consequences. It can also record unresolved disagreement before approval.

Send the decisionCompare the reviews

Five common decision points

Start with the decision now due.

Start with the commitment being considered, the evidence available, and the consequences of getting the decision wrong.

01

Before approval

Management is requesting a material commitment. The proposal treats customer demand, technical feasibility, delivery capacity, and expected return as one settled conclusion.

Signals that an independent view may help

  • The initiative is difficult to challenge internally
  • Alternatives received little serious attention
  • The proposed commitment will be expensive to reverse
Service fitIndependent Initiative ReviewSee this service
02

Before pilot-to-production

A pilot or demonstration worked under limited conditions. Production brings operating cost, customer exposure, integration work, and new accountability into the decision.

Signals that an independent view may help

  • Pilot results exclude manual correction or support work
  • Production economics are still estimates
  • Failure detection and ownership remain unclear
Service fitIndependent Initiative Review for AISee this service
03

After delay or scope drift

The roadmap, cost, or intended outcome has changed. The initiative is still being judged against the case that secured its original approval.

Signals that an independent view may help

  • More work is being funded without better evidence
  • The original decision conditions are no longer visible
  • Teams debate execution while the investment premise goes untested
Service fitIndependent Continuation ReviewSee this service
04

Before renewed funding

An investor, finance leader, or board is being asked to release another tranche, extend the runway, or support a recovery plan.

Signals that an independent view may help

  • Progress reports list activity without evidence of outcomes
  • The latest request relies on assumptions from an earlier plan
  • No one has defined what would justify withholding the next commitment
Service fitIndependent Initiative ReviewSee this service
05

Before restructuring or closure

The organisation must decide whether a narrower version remains defensible, the case needs to be rebuilt, or further exposure should end.

Signals that an independent view may help

  • A narrower version of the initiative may remain viable
  • Past spending is influencing the next decision
  • Management needs a usable record of why the direction changed
Service fitDecision Case ReconstructionSee this service

When this is too early

Some technology questions are not ready for independent review.

An undeveloped idea with no material commitment at stake is too early. General coaching, innovation workshops, implementation help, and confirmation of a preferred answer sit outside this practice.

The work becomes relevant once there is a defined decision, a responsible owner, a deadline, evidence to examine, and consequences that warrant outside judgment.

The initial brief

Write down the choice.

Should the company fund the proposed move of its customer-support AI pilot into production across three markets?

A request to “review our AI strategy” is too broad. The form asks for the decision, initiative, deadline, commitment, owner, evidence, sponsor, and reporting context.

Start the request

Request a review

Define the commitment before it is approved.

Send the choice, deadline, evidence available, and consequences involved. I will tell you whether an independent review fits the decision.

Request an initiative reviewContact us