AI-Driven Business Innovation - One Day Masterclass

Overview

Duration: 1 day (9:00 AM - 4:30 PM) Target: Executives, C-suite leaders, strategists, innovation officers, portfolio managers Style: Strategic frameworks with investment decision simulation Goal: Learn to evaluate, prioritise, and invest in AI initiatives using proven strategic frameworks. This is a strategic leadership masterclass — not a technical implementation or hands-on coding workshop.

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Course Structure

For Facilitators

instructor-materials/facilitation-notes/
  ├── delivery-timeline.md       ← Complete day schedule with timing
  ├── facilitator-guide.md       ← 64-page complete delivery guide
  └── storytelling-narratives.md ← Narrative examples for teaching

Published Materials (GitHub Pages from root)

All materials are in root folder for GitHub Pages publishing:

/
  ├── index.html             ← GitHub Pages landing page
  ├── pre-readings/          ← Executive-focused pre-readings (REQUIRED)
  │   ├── strategic-ai-investment.md
  │   ├── retailflow-company-overview.md
  │   └── what-executives-need-to-know-about-ai.md
  ├── handouts/              ← Frameworks reference sheet
  │   └── frameworks-reference-sheet.md
  ├── activities/            ← All exercise materials and templates
  │   ├── ai-capability-cards.md
  │   ├── investment-pitch-scenarios.md
  │   ├── strategic-response-scenarios.md
  │   ├── ai-transformation-matrix-template.md
  │   ├── investment-calculator-template.md
  │   └── personal-action-plan-template.md
  └── slides/                ← Slide deck (to be created)
      └── slide-deck.md

What Participants Need

Before the course (48 hours prior):

• Read all three pre-readings in pre-readings/ (approx. 40 minutes total)
• Complete self-assessment questions
• Bring one strategic AI challenge to discuss

During the course (BYOD REQUIRED):

• Laptop or tablet with spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets)
• Calculator functionality for ROI exercises
• Note-taking capability
• Access to digital templates

Take home:

• Frameworks reference sheet (PDF)
• Digital templates (editable)
• Personal action plan (completed during course)

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The 5 Strategic Frameworks

Framework 1: AI Transformation Matrix

What: Classify AI initiatives by focus (process vs strategic) and magnitude (incremental vs transformational) When taught: 9:20-9:50 AM (30 min) Practiced: Exercise 1 - AI Tech Radar (9:50-10:35 AM, 45 min) Handout: In frameworks-reference-sheet.md

Four quadrants:

• Optimize (process + incremental) - Automate existing tasks
• Enhance (strategic + incremental) - Improve products/services
• Revolutionize (process + transformational) - Reinvent core processes
• Transform (strategic + transformational) - New business models

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Framework 2: Data Value Pyramid

What: 5-level data maturity model from collection to autonomous operations When taught: 10:50-11:20 AM (combined with Three Horizons, 30 min) Used in: Exercise 1 (AI readiness assessment) Handout: In frameworks-reference-sheet.md

Five levels:

1. Data Collection (raw data)
2. Data Integration (connected sources)
3. Descriptive Analytics (what happened)
4. Predictive Analytics (what will happen)
5. Prescriptive/Autonomous (what to do automatically)

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Framework 3: Three Horizons Model

What: Balance AI portfolio across timeframes (optimize, emerge, transform) When taught: 11:00-11:20 AM (20 min) Practiced: Exercise 2 - AI-Assisted Strategic Analysis (11:20-12:30 PM, 70 min) Handout: In frameworks-reference-sheet.md

Portfolio allocation:

• Horizon 1 (0-12 months): Optimize core - 70% of budget
• Horizon 2 (1-3 years): Build emerging - 20% of budget
• Horizon 3 (3-5+ years): Create future - 10% of budget

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Framework 4: AI Investment Model

What: Calculate ROI across 4 value categories to make investment decisions When taught: 1:30-2:00 PM (30 min) Practiced: Exercise 3 - AI Investment Dragon's Den (2:45-3:55 PM, 70 min) Handout: In frameworks-reference-sheet.md

Four value categories:

1. Cost Reduction
2. Revenue Growth
3. Risk Reduction
4. Strategic Positioning

ROI thresholds:

• Horizon 1: >200% Year 1
• Horizon 2: >150% over 3 years
• Horizon 3: >100% over 5 years

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Framework 5: Innovation Adoption Framework

What: 5-phase journey from knowledge building to comprehensive transformation When taught: Throughout day (integrated with scenarios) Practiced: Exercise 4 - Strategic Response Scenarios (1:15-1:30 PM, 15 min) Handout: In frameworks-reference-sheet.md

Five phases:

1. Knowledge Building (3-6 months)
2. Pilot Experimentation (6-12 months)
3. Selective Deployment (12-18 months)
4. Scaling Operations (18-36 months)
5. Comprehensive Transformation (36+ months)

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The 4 Exercises

Exercise 1: AI Tech Radar (9:55-10:40, 45 min)

What: Map your organization's AI maturity and capabilities using physical capability cards Frameworks used: AI Transformation Matrix, Data Value Pyramid Materials needed: 12 capability cards (print & cut), matrix template Output: Visual map of AI readiness and gaps

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Exercise 2: AI-Assisted Strategic Analysis (11:20-12:30, 70 min)

What: Experience AI as strategic thought partner using Google Gemini/ChatGPT/Claude Framework used: Three Horizons Model Materials needed: Strategic Prompting Guide, AI tools (BYOD) Three AI Techniques:

• Risk Deep-Dive: AI finds threats you missed
• Reverse Prompting: AI asks YOU questions
• AI Debate: Two AIs argue different perspectives Output: Strategic threats & opportunities identified through human-AI collaboration

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Exercise 3: AI Investment Dragon's Den (2:45-3:55, 70 min) ⭐ CORE

What: Investment committee simulation - pitch and evaluate AI initiatives Framework used: AI Investment Model Materials needed: Investment Calculator, AI Investment Checklist, RetailFlow scenarios Setup:

• Half participants = Investment Committee
• Half participants = Project Teams (3 teams)
• Teams pitch AI initiatives (chatbot, dynamic pricing, inventory optimization, fraud detection)
• Committee evaluates using AI Investment Model + AI-specific criteria
• Committee allocates $2M budget Output: Portfolio investment decisions with ROI justification The Dilemma: Highest ROI projects have AI-specific red flags (ethics, data prep, budget)

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Exercise 4: Strategic Response Scenarios (1:15-1:30, 15 min)

What: Rapid strategic decisions with anonymous voting (post-lunch energizer) Framework used: Innovation Adoption Framework, Scale/Pivot/Kill Criteria Format: MS Forms voting, real-time results, group discussion Scenarios:

• Competitive Threat: Fast-follow vs Differentiate vs Wait?
• Pilot Performance: Scale vs Pivot vs Kill?
• Emerging Tech: Pioneer vs Fast-Follower vs Wait? Output: Framework-based decision-making under time pressure

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How to Deliver This Course

Before the Course (1 Week Prior)

1. Read instructor-materials/facilitation-notes/facilitator-guide.md - complete 64-page delivery guide
2. Review instructor-materials/facilitation-notes/delivery-timeline.md - exact timing for day
3. Send pre-readings to participants (pre-readings/)
4. Convert materials to HTML/PDF:
   • Frameworks reference sheet
   • Activity templates
   • Pre-readings
5. Set up digital templates (Google Sheets or Excel):
   • Investment calculator
   • AI transformation matrix
   • Personal action plan

Course Requirements

Technology (BYOD REQUIRED):

• Participants MUST bring laptops or tablets
• Spreadsheet software required (Excel, Google Sheets)
• Calculator functionality for ROI exercises
• Projector and screen for facilitator
• Flipcharts/whiteboards for group exercises

Room Setup:

• Main presentation area
• Breakout space for Dragon's Den team preparation
• Tables for 4-6 people (collaborative work)

Materials to Print:

• Frameworks reference sheet (1 per participant)
• Investment pitch scenarios (Exercise 3)
• Strategic response scenarios (Exercise 4)

During the Course

1. Follow instructor-materials/facilitation-notes/delivery-timeline.md for exact timing
2. Use frameworks from handouts/frameworks-reference-sheet.md
3. RetailFlow provides strategic context throughout
4. Monitor energy levels (Dragon's Den at 1:45 PM is the peak)

After the Course

Participants take home:

• Digital templates (editable)
• Frameworks reference (PDF)
• Personal action plan (completed)
• Links to additional resources

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Integration with RetailFlow Simulation

Different from Leadership-PM course:

Leadership-PM uses RetailFlow for:

• Operational execution (how to deliver the chatbot project)
• Crisis management (handle problems during implementation)
• Project-level decisions

Business Innovation uses RetailFlow for:

• Strategic investment decisions (which AI initiatives to fund)
• Portfolio allocation (chatbot vs inventory optimization vs pricing AI)
• Executive-level trade-offs

RetailFlow in Exercise 3 (Dragon's Den):

• CEO has $2M AI budget
• Four competing initiatives (see activities/investment-pitch-scenarios.md):
  1. Customer service chatbot ($450K)
  2. Dynamic pricing optimization ($850K)
  3. AI inventory optimization ($1.1M)
  4. Fraud detection system ($650K)
• Cannot fund all - must prioritize strategically
• Teams pitch, committee decides using frameworks
• Participants read RetailFlow overview as pre-reading (pre-readings/retailflow-company-overview.md)

RetailFlow Resources

🔗 Repository: [PLACEHOLDER-USERNAME]/retailflow 🌐 Simulation Website: [PLACEHOLDER-USERNAME].github.io/retailflow

The RetailFlow repository contains:

• Complete company background and financial context
• Investment scenario details
• Strategic decision frameworks
• Interactive simulation website

RetailFlow provides consistent business context across all strategic exercises.

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Quick Start for Facilitators

What's ready:

• ✅ Facilitator materials (instructor-materials/facilitation-notes/)
  • ✅ delivery-timeline.md (complete schedule)
  • ✅ facilitator-guide.md (64-page complete delivery guide)
  • ✅ storytelling-narratives.md (teaching narratives)
• ✅ Pre-readings (executive-focused, pre-readings/)
  • ✅ strategic-ai-investment.md
  • ✅ retailflow-company-overview.md
  • ✅ what-executives-need-to-know-about-ai.md
• ✅ Frameworks reference sheet (handouts/frameworks-reference-sheet.md)
• ✅ Exercise materials (all 4 exercises, activities/)
  • ✅ ai-capability-cards.md (Exercise 1)
  • ✅ investment-pitch-scenarios.md (Exercise 3 - 4 detailed scenarios)
  • ✅ strategic-response-scenarios.md (Exercise 4 - 3 decision scenarios)
• ✅ Templates (all participant worksheets, activities/)
  • ✅ ai-transformation-matrix-template.md
  • ✅ investment-calculator-template.md
  • ✅ personal-action-plan-template.md

The course is 100% complete and ready to deliver immediately!

Publishing: All materials in root folder for GitHub Pages (serve from root, not docs/).

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Key Difference from Leadership-PM Course

	Leadership-PM	Business Innovation
Audience	Project managers, implementers	Executives, strategists
Question	"How do I deliver this AI project?"	"Should I fund this AI project?"
Focus	Execution, operations, crisis management	Strategy, investment, portfolio
Frameworks	Stakeholder mgmt, pilot design, ethics	Transformation matrix, horizons, ROI
RetailFlow use	Operational (run the chatbot project)	Strategic (fund chatbot vs other options)
Outcome	How to lead AI projects	Where to invest in AI

They complement each other:

• Business Innovation = Strategic decisions (what to fund)
• Leadership-PM = Execution excellence (how to deliver)

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Source Attribution

Frameworks based on Dr. Michael Borck's AI Innovation Masterclass: https://michaelborck-presentations.github.io/AAAC-AI-Innovation/

Additional resources available at source website:

• AI Metrics and ROI Indicators
• LLM and AI Agents Strategic Guide
• Implementation Tools and Platforms Directory
• Five Key AI Capability Domains Framework
• Future AI Trend Analysis

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This course equips executives to make strategic AI investment decisions using proven frameworks and hands-on practice.