Operating Model & Delivery
Covers who builds, buys, runs and supports AI, how sourcing choices are made, how running costs and suppliers are managed, and the standards delivery teams work to. A clear operating model lets AI move from pilot to dependable service without every team inventing its own way of working.
Target operating model for AI
The organisation has a defined, approved operating model that states who builds, buys, runs and supports AI, and what is done centrally and what locally.
Build, buy or configure approach
A consistent, documented method decides for each use of AI whether to configure tools already owned, procure, build, or wait, and the reasons are recorded.
Running cost management
The ongoing cost of each AI service, including usage-based charges, is known, forecast, assigned to an owner and kept within agreed limits.
AI-aware procurement and contracts
Contracts for AI products and services set clear terms on data rights, intellectual property, notice of model changes, transparency and exit.
Supplier performance and exit
AI suppliers are managed against agreed performance measures, and each critical AI service has a tested route to exit or replace the supplier.
Delivery standards for AI
AI work is delivered by multidisciplinary teams using user-centred methods to defined delivery standards.
Service management for live AI
Every live AI service has defined support, change and problem management arrangements, including handling of changes to models and prompts.
Collaboration and sharing
The organisation works with peer organisations and partners to share AI solutions, lessons and capacity where this serves its aims.
Continuity when AI fails
Services that depend on AI can continue safely when the AI is unavailable, degraded or producing wrong results, through planned fallbacks that have been tested.
Involving people in AI design and evaluation
Evaluations and research that involve people have their informed consent, ethics review and protection, use participants who represent those the service will serve, and for significant uses draw on the communities affected.