<aside> đź“‘ Step-by-step Guide: Pitching An AI Project To Your Manager
When you pitch an internal project to your manager, you’re effectively selling the problem (and why it needs to be solved), the project (why it’s the ideal solution) and yourself as an AI engineer (why you are the right person to solve it).
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Here’s a comprehensive plan to go about it:
Picking the right problem is crucial. Look for opportunities where a GenAI project can add significant value and bring these to your manager's attention. Your chosen problem should clearly demonstrate the potential for substantial impact, justifying the shift in focus from your current tasks.
<aside> âś… Here are the internal AI projects with highest approval rates:
-> Increase efficiency -> Reduce cost -> Scale better -> Keep up with new tech -> Catch up with tech debt -> Develop capabilities that enable a business to solve other problems
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Choosing the right problem is half the battle won. Don’t solve problems that don’t matter to customers or the business, no matter how exciting the tech is. What matters to the business? Usually, it’s increased revenue or reduced cost, or capabilities that allow the business to solve other problems.
Identifying the right problem sometimes involves peeling the onion. Here’s an example: A client approached FuturePath AI with a request from customer service team:
<aside> 💬 Client-“Could we use AI to automatically respond to common customer inquiries?”
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<aside> 💬 The request made business sense—we thought they wanted to improve efficiency and reduce the workload on customer service agents. Nonetheless, we asked, “Why?
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<aside> 💬 Client-“Because we receive a high volume of repetitive questions.”
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<aside> 💬 It was clearer how this benefited the operation; it allows customer service agents to focus on more complex inquiries. Nonetheless, we asked “Why?” again.
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Client-“Because when agents are overwhelmed, the response time increases, and customer satisfaction drops.”
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Ah, now the root problem emerges. But increased response times weren't just a volume problem—it was an issue of resource allocation and capability. To solve this problem, we should not only automate responses to common questions but also enhance the AI’s ability to identify and escalate more complex issues to human agents more efficiently. This approach would improve overall customer satisfaction by ensuring timely responses while effectively managing more challenging situations.
In many organizations, it's often one or two champions who drive GenAI initiatives forward. By identifying high-value opportunities where GenAI can align with organizational goals, you can become that champion. Focus on problems that not only promise substantial impact but also align with your and your manager's objectives and career growth. This approach ensures that your efforts are seen as beneficial for both the organization and your team.
Tie your project idea to the organization's larger goals to increase favorability. At the very least, it should make your manager look good, and at best, it can potentially contribute to their promotion. Before preparing a formal pitch, immerse yourself in the organization's strategic direction by reviewing all-hands meeting minutes, company-wide staff emails, and engaging with department heads about the problems they are facing.
Examine your idea from different angles and see if there's a way to connect it to big-picture goals. Sometimes, a shift in perspective and re-framing can make a significant difference in aligning your GenAI project with the organization's objectives.
Here are some sample organizational goals and how you can align projects to them: