Policy & Governance establishes the foundational rules and leadership structures for AI in your organisation. This includes written policies that define acceptable AI use, data handling standards, ethical boundaries, and decision-making authority. Governance structures—such as an AI Council or steering committee—provide oversight, resolve conflicts, and ensure accountability for AI-related decisions across the enterprise.
Without these foundations, AI adoption happens in an uncoordinated way, with different teams following different rules (or none at all). This dimension evaluates whether your organisation has established formal AI policies, governance structures, and clear ownership of AI-related decisions.
Why It Matters
Without clear policy and governance, AI initiatives risk becoming siloed, inconsistent, or non-compliant with regulations.
Maturity Levels
| Basic | Standard | Advanced | Leading |
|---|---|---|---|
| No formal AI policy; AI usage is ad-hoc and uncoordinated across the organisation. | Enterprise AI policy in place, defining acceptable use, data handling, and basic controls. | AI Council established with clear ownership, regular governance meetings, and escalation pathways. | AI is embedded as a strategic enabler, with governance integrated into enterprise-wide decision-making and continuous policy evolution. |
See This in Practice
🦺 AI Safety Monitoring
Phase 1 establishes comprehensive AI governance: written AI policy defining acceptable use, board-approved AI Council with decision-making authority, cross-functional governance structure, and clear escalation pathways for HSE compliance issues.
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Legal📄 Contract Review
Demonstrates policy development for professional services: AI policy aligned with SRA requirements, Partner-level AI Working Group providing governance oversight, clear accountability for client confidentiality, and ethical guidelines for AI-assisted legal work.
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📥 Related Resources & Templates
Downloadable templates, examples, and frameworks to help you implement this dimension.
AI Use & Governance Policy
A comprehensive policy template covering AI acceptable use, governance structures, risk ownership, and review cadence for leadership sign-off.
Governance Framework
Framework template for establishing AI governance structures, roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes.