Why Most AI Projects Fail Before They Start
Goldilocks Rule of AI Projects; Most AI projects fail for the same reason Goldilocks left two bowls of porridge untouched: they weren’t the right size.
Some projects are too small to matter. Others are too big to ever get off the ground. Very few hit the just-right sweet spot where adoption, ROI, and momentum align.
That’s where Common Sense AI comes in—and why PCI Institute teaches leaders how to scope initiatives that win early and scale responsibly.
1. Too Small: The Trivial Pilot
- Symptom: a “proof of concept” that solves a side problem, not a strategic one.
- Risk: leaders dismiss AI as unimportant; budgets vanish.
- Example: automating a single data entry step, while supply chain delays remain untouched.
2. Too Big: The Boil-the-Ocean Transformation
- Symptom: multi-year roadmap, dozens of vendors, “AI everywhere.”
- Risk: endless delays, change fatigue, executive churn.
- Example: a global ERP + AI rollout with no incremental wins.
3. Just Right: The Strategic Pilot That Scales
- Symptom: a project tied to a real business outcome in 90 days.
- Impact: visible ROI, leadership buy-in, foundation for scale.
- Example: a manufacturing firm focused AI on predictive maintenance in one plant. Within three months, downtime dropped 18%, unlocking funding to expand.
📊 The Just-Right Scoping Checklist
- Define one clear KPI (lead time, yield, churn, etc.).
- Limit to 1–2 departments or plants.
- Use available data; no massive integration up front.
- Assign a business owner, not just IT.
- Budget for 90 days, not 3 years.
- Document learnings weekly.
- Pre-plan how success will scale.
The Goldilocks Rule in Action
Yesterday: endless pilots that never scale.
Today: mega-transformations that never finish.
With PCI: just-right projects that deliver and expand.
Ready to Scope Smarter?
At PCI Institute, we train leaders to identify, scope, and scale AI projects using Common Sense AI. Our cohorts and certifications are designed for executives who want wins—not waste.
👉 Join the next PCI Leader cohort and learn how to find the “just-right” project that moves your enterprise forward.
Learn more at www.ai-6x.com
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