Resources

When the Problem Isn't Where It Appears

A practical introduction to cross-functional business engineering. It examines why the department where a problem becomes visible may not be where the problem began, and shows how to trace symptoms through commercial commitments, operations, systems, compliance, projects, ownership and information flows.

For owners, directors and senior managers dealing with recurring problems that resist local fixes.

• Symptoms vs causes
• Cross-functional consequences
• Commercial commitments
• Software and process
• Compliance
• Project failure
• Ownership and hand-offs
• Root-cause diagnosis

Companion: Cross-Functional Business Diagnostic Checklist

Cross-Functional Business Diagnostic Checklist

A practical companion to When the Problem Isn't Where It Appears. Use it to define the visible symptom, reconstruct what changed, trace consequences across departments, test commitments and constraints, compare formal processes with reality, examine ownership and state a defensible root cause before approving corrective action.

Designed to be completed during a real management review or diagnostic investigation.

• Rapid diagnostic
• Decision chain
• Cross-functional review
• Constraint analysis
• Process and data checks
• Governance and ownership
• Root-cause test
• Action record

Related field manual: When the Problem Isn't Where It Appears

The AI Theatre Detector Scorecard

A structured 50-point assessment for evaluating an AI proposal before approving expenditure. It examines ten areas including the claim, business problem, process, data, output, risk, human responsibility, cost and exit route, forcing vague proposals into questions that can actually be answered.

Useful when comparing an AI tool, consultant proposal, automation project or internal AI initiative.

A practical judgement tool — not a scientific rating.

The Anti-Theatre AI Buying Checklist

A practical checklist for use before buying, approving or implementing an AI tool, feature, agent, consultant proposal or AI-assisted process. It tests whether the problem is real, whether AI is actually needed, whether the evidence survives a pilot, whether the data are usable, who remains responsible, what the risks and full costs are, and whether the organisation can leave the system without operational chaos.

For managers who want measurable improvement rather than AI for decoration.

The AI Theatre Detector

Spot expensive nonsense before the invoice arrives.

A practical and deliberately irreverent examination of how AI proposals can become detached from business reality. It looks at demos, consultants, agents, data quality, workflows, costs, lock-in and the role of human expertise — and asks the simple questions that turn impressive language back into something a business can evaluate.

For business owners and managers who want to distinguish useful AI from expensive performance art.

• AI hype
• The demo trap
• Data readiness
• Workflow analysis
• AI agents
• Costs and lock-in
• Human expertise
• Buying decisions

Related tools: The AI Theatre Detector Scorecard · The Anti-Theatre AI Buying Checklist

AI Fog Detector

Ten common AI claims are taken apart and translated back into operational reality. The resource examines statements such as ‘AI-powered’, ‘AI will automate the process’, ‘agents will run the business’ and ‘everyone needs an AI strategy’, then asks what task actually improves, what data are involved, who checks the output, what happens when the system fails and whether the promised benefit can be measured.

Funny on the surface. Serious about what happens to the budget underneath.