Methodology

Standards for evaluating AI in business workflows.

This page sets out the standards behind the product workflow: define scope and a baseline, test representative and difficult tasks, and interpret findings within the evidence and operating conditions recorded.

ASSESSMENT PRINCIPLES

Defined scope. Representative tests. Findings tied to evidence.

These three principles govern how the eight-stage product workflow is scoped, tested and interpreted.

Assess a defined task, not a model in isolation.

Map organisational roles and workflows, then specify the AI system, task and operating conditions covered by the assessment.

Test representative work and difficult cases.

Set a baseline, test tasks and review criteria. Record observed results, failures and evidence gaps against those conditions.

Connect findings to operating conditions.

Relate performance, failure modes, safeguards and total operating cost to the evidence. Track outcomes when the system enters use.

EVALUATION PROTOCOL

Define the system, task and conditions before testing.

Every finding is interpreted against a defined system version, business task, data set and operating environment.

01

Scope and baseline

Identify the system version, business task, workflow, data and operating conditions under assessment.

02

Test design

Set representative tasks, difficult cases, comparison baselines, evaluation criteria and sample limitations.

03

Observed results

Record performance, failures and exceptions against the defined tasks and conditions.

04

Risks and safeguards

Document material risks, access boundaries, human review and controls relevant to the proposed use.

05

Operating costs

Include system fees, integration, human review, monitoring and maintenance, with assumptions stated.

06

Outcome review

Compare pilot or deployment outcomes with the original baseline and record material changes.

ASSESSMENT FINDINGS

Each finding applies to the scope and conditions tested.

Findings are specific to the system, version, workflow, data and operating conditions assessed.
Supported within scopeThe evidence supports the stated use under the conditions assessed.
Supported with conditionsUse depends on specified, verifiable controls or operating prerequisites.
Not supported for productionObserved limitations or risks exceed the requirements for production use.
InconclusiveEvidence is missing, mixed or insufficient to support a reliable finding.

Continue to SYNAN

Start with a business question.

Use SYNAN to organise business context, evaluation evidence, risks and outcomes around a specific workflow.