![[AI Consultants Wolves.png]] Full disclosure: I practice what I preach! This article started as a voice note captured in [AudioPen](https://go.ricraftis.au/audioPen), which I then fed into Claude (my AI assistant of choice) to help craft the first draft. Through several iterations, we shaped it into a draft ready for human intervention which is what you’re reading now – a perfect example of using AI as one tool in a broader toolkit with a human in the loop. ## The AI Gold Rush: A Warning for Small Organisations In today’s environment, small businesses, community organisations, and not-for-profits face mounting pressure to “digitally transform” and “embrace AI.” Hype and the promise of revolutionary business practices, results and profits are probably bombarding you from all directions. While these technologies offer incredible potential, I’m increasingly concerned about what I call the “AI first, questions later” approach many consultants and AI companies are pushing onto smaller organisations. (Just as an aside before we get to the meat of the matter, the words in italics in the first sentence of the paragraph above are a dead giveaway of an AI written introduction. The frequent use of such terms as “rapidly evolving world” should alert you to the potential of AI generated copy. The word “delve” also seems to be another word frequently generated by AI models.) ### The Wolf at Your Door Imagine a consultant approaching your small business or community organisation, promising AI-powered solutions that will revolutionise your operations. They might dazzle you with technical jargon and promises of transformation, but here’s the crucial question: Are they starting with your actual needs, or are they simply selling what they have? This is not to suggest all such consultants are insincere or unethical. They may well believe their offerings will genuinely help you and your organisation. ## Why Your Organisation Needs a Foundation First ### The Three Pillars of Organisational Success  Generated with [Napkin.ai](https://napkin.ai/) Before any technology discussion can meaningfully take place, your organisation needs three fundamental elements: 1. **Organisational Values** The first thing to recognise is that organisations cannot have values in its own right. Your organisational values will be a reflection of the personal values of your people and can therefore change as people change. This concept should be recognised for a start so you build your organisational values to be a reflection of your people. For a small business or community organisation, values might include: - Supporting local community - Environmental sustainability - Inclusive service delivery - Ethical business practices - Family-friendly workplace 1. **Vision Statement** Vision statements need to be specific, inspiring, and clearly define the desired future state. Some examples might be: - “To be the leading community health clinic in Western Sydney, providing accessible healthcare to 10,000+ families annually by 2026” - “To transform Brisbane’s lower-income suburbs by establishing five fully-equipped youth learning centers that serve 1,000 students daily” - “To create a zero-waste shopping experience for the Northern Beaches community, eliminating 100,000 single-use plastics annually” - “To be the primary support network for senior citizens in the Greater Melbourne area, connecting 5,000 elderly residents with essential services and social activities” 1. **Mission Statement** This is your day-to-day purpose statement of how you will achieve your vision. Aligned examples to match the above visions are: - “We deliver affordable, high-quality healthcare services through our network of local clinics, focusing on preventative care, health education, and cultural sensitivity while maintaining strong community partnerships and leveraging modern medical practices” - “We empower youth through free after-school academic support, digital skills training, and mentorship programs, delivered by qualified educators and industry professionals in safe, technology-enabled environments” - “We operate package-free grocery stores that provide locally-sourced, organic products, educate customers about sustainable living, and support local producers while maintaining competitive prices” - “We coordinate comprehensive support services for seniors through volunteer networks, technology-enabled care monitoring, and community engagement programs, ensuring dignity and independence for our elderly community members” With these foundational elements established, we can now proceed to build a strategic framework that turns vision into action. Think of it as constructing a building – your values, vision, and mission form the foundation, while the [OGSM framework](https://www.cascade.app/blog/ogsm-model-guide), described next, provides the structural blueprint. ## The Strategic Roadmap: OGSM Framework  Once your foundation is solid, the next step is to use the OGSM framework to plan your organisation’s future. Below, there is an outline of how it works. It is worth remembering a few important concepts of how I put these together in project management software. These are: 1. Do not overcommit yourself with objectives. Keep it to say, five at a time. This allows a manageable level of time and focus on the objectives without being overwhelmed. 2. If you have identified more than five objectives, keep the rest for review as each of the prioritised ones are achieved. 3. There is only one objective, but each one can have a number of goals set to achieve various steps. 4. Likewise, each goal can have a number of strategies and 5. Each strategy can have a number of measures. 6. Make the plan to be manageable and personalise to suit your organisation’s work style and needs. 7. Finally, always celebrate your wins. It is a great way of maintaining momentum and motivation. To pull the plan together, I use [Clickup](https://risestrategic.au/consulting/are-ai-consultants-just-wolves-in-sheeps-clothing/..clickup.com) Project Management software. However, you can use others such as [LiftOS](https://www.liftos.io/), [Freedcamp](https://freedcamp.com/) or any that you are familiar with to do the job. The components to add to your plan are: ### Objectives - Clear, achievable goals for your organisation - Aligned with your values and mission - Realistic for your size and resources ### Goals (SMART) You can have several goals to support each of your objectives. Each goal should be structured using the SMART goals framework to improve clarity. - **S**pecific targets - **M**easurable outcomes - **A**chievable with your resources - **R**elevant to your mission - **T**ime-bound deadlines ### Strategies - Action plans for each goal - Resource allocation, which includes the responsible people - Risk management ### Metrics - How you will measure success - Progress tracking - Impact assessment With your organisational foundation and strategic framework in place, you’re ready to consider how technology – including AI – might support your objectives. However, before implementing any AI solutions, there is a critical step that many organisations overlook: establishing clear guidelines for AI usage. ## The Critical Need for a Generative AI Policy   Generated with [Napkin.ai](https://napkin.ai/) ### Protecting Your Organisation Smaller organisations can be particularly vulnerable to data breaches and privacy issues. They do not have the IT divisions and cybersecurity experts in place to establish a system to serve an intelligence agency. So, before implementing any AI tools, you need clear guidelines for your team. When developing a Generative AI policy, consider these risks: - Staff using free AI tools with sensitive client information - Volunteers sharing confidential details in chatbots - Customer data being exposed through unsecured AI platforms ### Essential Policy Elements Your AI policy doesn’t need to be complex, but it must address: 1. **Data Protection** - What information can never be shared with AI tools - Which tools are approved for use within the organisation - How sensitive information should be handled 2. **Usage Guidelines** - Who can use AI tools - For what purposes - Required approvals 3. **Training Requirements** - Basic AI literacy - Data security awareness - Regular updates and reviews If you are unsure about writing policies, I have a template that can be customised to suit your organisation and needs. ## The Tool Kit Approach vs. The AI Hammer ### A Better Way Forward  Generated with [Napkin.ai](https://napkin.ai/) There is an old adage that if you only have a hammer, then every challenge looks like a nail. The same applies to business consulting where AI is the only tool used to solve problems. Be wary of consultants who only offer AI solutions. A good business advisor should: 1. **Start with Understanding** - The uniqueness of your organisation - The specific challenges you face - What resources you have available - Your vision for your organisation (to ensure alignment of solutions) - Budget constraints 2. **Consider All Options Including**: - Simple Process improvements - Documentation of workflows - Staff training - Traditional technology solutions - And yes, AI where appropriate 3. **Recommend Appropriate Solutions That Are**: - Scalable to your needs - Within your budget - Manageable with your resources - Demonstrate a positive return on investment ## Red Flags to Watch For [](https://napkin.ai/) Generated with [Napkin.ai](https://napkin.ai/) ### Protecting Your Organization Be cautious if a consultant: 1. Leads with AI solutions before understanding your problems 2. Can’t explain how their solution aligns with your strategic plan 3. Dismisses simpler, non-AI alternatives 4. Focuses on technology instead of outcomes 5. Pushes solutions beyond your resource capacity 6. Does not consider the ability for scale ## Real Solutions for Real Organisations ### Consider These Alternatives Instead of expensive AI solutions, many organisations might benefit more from: - Improved volunteer management systems - Better communication tools - Updated standard operating procedures - Enhanced staff training - Streamlined processes - Documented systems - Actually asking your team for ideas ## Making Technology Work for You ### Smart Implementation When considering any technology solution: 1. Start small with a minimum viable product (solution) 2. Test thoroughly and record processes 3. Measure the results 4. Adjust as needed after considering options 5. Scale gradually Implementing in this manner is using a feedback loop that can assist in ensuring continuous improvment. ## Conclusion: Your Next Steps The path to organisational improvement does not start with AI – it starts with understanding your organisation, your people, your current position and your vision for the future. Before investing in any technology solution: 1. Establish your foundational elements - Values - Vision - Mission 2. Create your strategic plan using OGSM 3. Develop your Generative AI policy 4. Evaluate your real needs 5. Consider all possible solutions  Generated with [Napkin.ai](https://napkin.ai/) ### Call to Action Don’t let the AI gold rush pressure you into decisions that might not serve your organisation’s best interests. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by technology choices or need help developing your organizational strategy, let’s talk. I specialise in helping small businesses, community organisations, and not-for-profits find right-sized solutions to real problems. Contact me for a no-obligation discussion about: - Developing your organizational foundation - Creating your Generative AI policy - Strategic planning - Problem-solving approaches - Technology evaluation Remember: The best solution isn’t always the most technical one. Sometimes, it’s just about finding the right tool for the job. Surprisingly, it is often at your fingertips and can be identified through conversation. _P.S. Whether your challenges require AI or a simple process change, the key is starting with understanding. Let’s begin that conversation today._