Finding Real Problems Worth Solving
The Challenge
Most AI initiatives fail not because the technology doesn’t work, but because they solve the wrong problems. Companies invest in AI solutions that look impressive but don’t address actual operational pain points, leading to poor adoption, wasted resources, and organizational skepticism about AI’s value.
Our Approach
Rather than prescribing AI solutions, we facilitate a structured discovery process where your own staff identify the highest-impact problems worth solving. Through cross-functional problem analysis sessions, we break down silos, surface hidden inefficiencies, and build organizational consensus around priorities—before a single line of code is written.
The result: AI implementations that solve real problems, earn immediate buy-in, and deliver measurable value.
Service Phases & Timeline
Phase 1: Discovery & Preparation (Weeks 1-2)
What Happens:
- Stakeholder interviews with department heads and key personnel
- Review of existing processes, pain points, and previous improvement initiatives
- Identification of cross-functional workshop participants
- Development of facilitation framework tailored to your organization
Deliverables:
Your Team’s Time Investment:
- Department heads: 1-2 hours each (interviews)
- Executive sponsor: 1 hour (kickoff alignment)
- Total internal cost: ~8-12 hours
Phase 2: Cross-Functional Problem Analysis (Weeks 3-4)
What Happens:
- 3-4 facilitated working sessions (2-3 hours each)
- Mixed groups from operations, finance, customer service, IT, product, and other relevant functions
- Structured exercises to identify, validate, and quantify real operational problems
- Anonymous feedback mechanisms to ensure psychological safety
- Real-time synthesis and pattern recognition
Deliverables:
- Comprehensive problem inventory
- Cross-functional impact mapping
- Initial prioritization based on frequency, severity, and business impact
Your Team’s Time Investment:
- Core participants (8-12 staff): 8-12 hours each (sessions + prep)
- Department representatives: 6-8 hours each
- Executive observers: 2-4 hours (optional attendance)
- Total internal cost: ~80-120 hours
Phase 3: Analysis & Prioritization (Week 5)
What Happens:
- Deep analysis of identified problems
- Cost-of-current-state calculations (time waste, error rates, customer impact)
- Evaluation of potential solutions (AI, process redesign, training, tooling)
- ROI estimation for top candidates
- Honest assessment: which problems are actually AI problems?
Deliverables:
- Prioritized Implementation Roadmap: Top 5-7 problems ranked by business impact
- Problem Briefs: Detailed documentation for each priority including:
Your Team’s Time Investment:
- Executive team: 2 hours (findings review)
- Department heads: 1 hour each (validation)
- Total internal cost: ~6-10 hours
Phase 4: Presentation & Planning (Week 6)
What Happens:
- Executive presentation of findings and recommendations
- Collaborative selection of initial implementation projects
- Scoping and timeline development for chosen solutions
- Formation of implementation working groups
Deliverables:
- Executive summary presentation
- Detailed implementation proposals for selected projects
- Resource requirements and timeline estimates
- Success metrics and measurement framework
Your Team’s Time Investment:
- Executive team: 2-3 hours (presentation and planning)
- Project sponsors: 1-2 hours
- Total internal cost: ~6-10 hours
Total Timeline: 6 Weeks
Total Internal Time Investment: 100-150 hours
Distributed across 12-20 staff members
Cost Perspective: If your average loaded labor rate is $75/hour, your internal investment is approximately $7,500-11,250. This is a fraction of what most companies waste on AI implementations that solve the wrong problems.
What Makes This Different
✓ Your staff drive the agenda – Not an external consultant guessing at your problems
✓ Built-in buy-in – Participants become advocates for solutions they helped identify
✓ De-risked implementation – You’re solving validated problems, not chasing trends
✓ Honest assessment – We’ll tell you when AI isn’t the answer, building long-term trust
✓ Actionable roadmap – You end with clear priorities and realistic implementation plans, not vague recommendations
Investment
Discovery Service: $[XX,XXX] (See sample cost estimates here)
Includes all four phases, facilitation, analysis, and deliverables outlined above.
Optional: Implementation Services
Following discovery, we can provide implementation support for prioritized solutions on a project-by-project basis. Scoping and pricing determined after Phase 4 based on selected initiatives.
Ideal For
- Mid-to-large companies exploring AI adoption but unsure where to start
- Organizations that have tried AI pilots with limited success
- Companies with multiple departments experiencing inefficiencies but lacking alignment on priorities
- Leadership teams seeking data-driven justification for AI investment
Next Steps
Ready to stop guessing and start solving?
Let’s schedule a 30-minute exploratory call to discuss your organization’s specific challenges and whether this discovery approach is the right fit.
Contact Us“Most AI consultants come in with solutions looking for problems. We do the opposite. We help you find the problems worth solving—then we solve them.”