Analytics & AI Maturity Canvas

Why to use?

Asses the analytics & AI maturity of an application domain and plan an implementation roadmap for the applications of analytics & AI.

When to use?

After ideating analytics & AI use cases (for example, using the Business Model, Value Chain or Customer Touchpoints canvas) to first gain an overview of existing applications, particularly those related to data, analytics and AI, and later to plan the sequence in which these applications will be implemented and determine the appropriate level of analytics & AI to apply.

How to use?

I. Preparation

① Fill the canvas header and footer:

a) Label Focus on in the canvas header with a white sticky defining the application domain.

b) Add a legend with sticky notes in the corresponding color:

- Green sticky notes: "Existing application / capability"

- Yellow sticky notes: "Planned application / capability"

- Red sticky notes: "Missing application / capability"

- White sticky notes: "Riskiest assumption"

II. Analytics & AI Maturity Assessment

② Applications: Place a green sticky note for each existing analytical / AI application in one of the specified green boxes ②(a-f), each representing a different maturity stage—from basic Business Operations to advanced Business Automation—based on the participants' assessment. Use yellow sticky notes for applications in planning or development stages. Connect applications (or expansion stages of an application) with arrows to show dependencies and sequential builds, clearly mapping out how each application supports or relies upon others in the development process.

[OPTIONAL: ③ Capabilities: For each existing (analytical) capability (i.e. tools, techniques, skills etc.) add a green sticky note to the corresponding blue box (a-f) in the lower half of the canvas. Use yellow sticky notes for capabilities that are planned or under development.]

III. Analytics & AI Roadmap Planning

For each use case idea (potentially listed in the Sort in fields) - whether it is formulated as a problem, a question, a solution or a benefit - think of potential applications of analytics and AI to solve this problem, to answer this question, to build this solution or to create this benefit. For each identified application, place a red sticky note in the corresponding green box (a-f) that matches the required level of analytics maturity. If applicable, mark the corresponding sticky note from the Sort in field with a check mark.

Next, check for all missing applications (red sticky notes) whether there are applications (or application versions) that are a precursor or a prerequisite. Add another red sticky note for this precursor or prerequisite application if it is missing and put it in the appropriate green box ②(a-f). Connect these applications with arrows to visualise the sequence of implementation and to clarify the order in which applications depend on each other.

For applications that have no subsequent developments, consider how they might advance to the next level of analytics & AI maturity for the corresponding use case. Place a new red sticky note in the subsequent green box ②(a-f) to signify the next stage of development for this application. Connect these with arrows to demonstrate progression paths. Additionally, if more precursor or prerequisite applications are needed to support this advancement to the next analytics & AI maturity stage, add them accordingly and connect them with arrows.

Tip: Initially bypass the blue boxes for data and analytical capabilities. After the Data Understanding phase, when you clearly understand which capabilities are needed, revisit these sections. Then, copy the sticky notes from the Technology, Organisation and People boxes of the Data Management and Data Monetization canvases into the corresponding boxes ③(a-f) on the Analytics & AI Maturity canvas, placing them according to their assessed maturity stage.

IV. Next-Best-Application

The next-best applications to implement are typically those at the lower levels of analytics & AI maturity, which rely solely on existing applications. Often, there is an evident next-best-application:

• If a clear next-best-application is identified, proceed with the Analytics & AI Use Case canvas to further define its use case(s) and design the solution from the user's perspective. Place the name of the application in the Focus on field.

• If there is no obvious choice, employ the Priority Matrix canvas and the PICK method to select the next-best-application. Copy all red sticky notes (representing missing applications of the same analytics / AI maturity) to the Sort in fields on the left edge of the Priority Matrix canvas.

References:

A: Use the Priority Matrix canvas to evaluate missing applications and models at each maturity stage needed to implement the use cases. Go stage by stage, as each stage has comparable complexity and impact.

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