PROCESS BEFORE AI

If you cannot explain the rule to a person, do not encode it in automation yet.

A simple, reusable operating tool for teams that want clearer handoffs and less status chasing.

Use this on one real workflow

The Checklist

The trigger is unambiguous
The record/source of truth is known
One owner exists at each active stage
Stage exit conditions are defined
Required input data is available and trustworthy
Exceptions are identified
Human judgment points are explicit
Failure/retry behavior is defined
Someone can monitor the automation
A useful business metric will tell us whether it helped

Design notes

Keep It Honest

Start with a narrow workflow and real records.
Automate repetitive coordination before high-judgment decisions.
Design a manual fallback for failures.

How to use it

Do not complete this from memory in a conference room. Pull up one active or recently completed record and test the checklist against what actually happened. Any item that repeatedly needs a text, a side spreadsheet, or an owner stepping in is a candidate for workflow redesign.