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Generative AI Center of Excellence Idea Funnel

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How to Use This Infographic

I've created a comprehensive interactive infographic for the GenAI Center of Excellence idea funnel process. Here's what the visualization includes:

Key Features:

Central Funnel Visualization

  • 7 color-coded stages from "AI Training" to "Go Live"
  • Funnel shape narrows to show the filtering effect
  • Numbered stages for easy reference
  • Interactive hover functionality with detailed descriptions

Side Panels

  • Left: "New GenAI Idea Form" showing form elements and submit button
  • Right: "Summary Dashboard" with real KPIs and metrics visualization

Interactive Elements - Hover over any funnel stage to see detailed explanations - Info boxes that follow the mouse and stay within bounds - Visual feedback with highlighted borders on hover - Flow arrows connecting the form → funnel → dashboard

The Seven Funnel Stages:

  1. Training Program - 1-hour AI literacy training
  2. Idea Submission - Universal web form for all employees
  3. Expert Review - Technical feasibility and business assessment
  4. Scoring & Categorization - Systematic evaluation framework
  5. Monthly Selection - Funding decisions by expert panel
  6. Development - Building solutions with dedicated teams
  7. Deployment - Going live with monitoring and ROI measurement

The infographic uses a professional color scheme and responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes. Users can explore each stage of the process by hovering to understand the complete workflow from initial idea submission through successful deployment.

This visualization effectively communicates the systematic, structured approach of the GenAI CoE while providing an engaging way for stakeholders to understand how ideas flow through the organization's innovation pipeline.

Lesson Plan: Understanding the GenAI Center of Excellence Idea Funnel Process

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, participants will be able to:

  • Identify all seven stages of the GenAI CoE idea funnel process
  • Explain the purpose and activities at each stage of the funnel
  • Understand their role as potential idea contributors in the organization's AI strategy
  • Recognize the criteria used to evaluate and prioritize AI ideas
  • Navigate the idea submission process and understand what happens after submission
  • Appreciate the systematic approach to AI innovation within the organization

Target Audience

All organizational staff members, including: - Individual contributors across all departments - Team leads and middle management - Senior managers and executives - Technical and non-technical employees

Prerequisites

  • Basic understanding of what artificial intelligence means in a business context
  • Familiarity with the organization's strategic goals and challenges
  • Access to computer/device with web browser for interactive infographic

Materials Needed

  • Interactive GenAI CoE infographic (web-based)
  • Presentation slides (optional for larger groups)
  • Handout with key process steps and contact information
  • Example idea submission forms
  • Case study examples from successful AI implementations

Lesson Structure

Opening: Setting the Context

Introduction to Organizational AI Strategy - Brief overview of why the organization has established a GenAI Center of Excellence - Connection between individual innovation and organizational competitive advantage - Emphasis that everyone can contribute valuable ideas regardless of technical background

Preview of the Learning Experience - Introduce the interactive infographic as the primary learning tool - Explain that participants will explore each stage of the process - Set expectations for hands-on exploration and discussion

Main Lesson: Interactive Infographic Exploration

Stage 1: Guided Tour - Demonstrate how to interact with the infographic (hovering, clicking) - Walk through the overall flow from left (idea form) to right (dashboard) - Point out the funnel shape and explain why it narrows (quality filtering process)

Stage 2: Detailed Stage Exploration Have participants work through each stage systematically:

Training Program Stage - Discuss the importance of AI literacy before idea submission - Explain what the one-hour training covers and how to access it - Emphasize that training helps generate better, more feasible ideas

Idea Submission Stage - Show the web form elements in detail - Discuss what makes a good problem statement vs. a vague suggestion - Explain the importance of including success metrics and resource estimates - Provide examples of well-structured vs. poorly-structured idea submissions

Expert Review Stage - Explain who comprises the expert review panel - Detail the assessment criteria: technical feasibility, business value, risk - Clarify the feedback timeline and communication process - Address concerns about idea "ownership" and credit

Scoring & Categorization Stage - Break down the 1-5 scoring system for feasibility, risk, and benefits - Explain how ideas are categorized by type, complexity, and department - Show how scoring helps prioritize limited development resources - Discuss the transparency of the evaluation process

Monthly Selection Stage - Explain the monthly review cycle and selection criteria - Discuss how strategic alignment influences selection decisions - Address why good ideas might not be selected immediately - Explain the concept of "pipeline" and timing considerations

Development Stage - Describe the dedicated development team structure - Explain the bi-weekly reporting and support process - Discuss typical development timelines and milestones - Address how original idea contributors stay involved

Deployment Stage - Explain the go-live process and success measurement - Discuss user training and change management support - Address ongoing monitoring and optimization - Explain how success stories are shared organization-wide

Interactive Activities

Activity 1: Idea Brainstorming - Participants identify potential AI opportunities in their daily work - Small groups discuss what information they would need to complete an idea submission - Groups share one promising idea with the larger audience

Activity 2: Stage Mapping Exercise - Present a case study of a successful AI implementation - Have participants map the case study to each stage of the funnel - Discuss what might have happened at each stage for this specific example

Activity 3: Dashboard Interpretation - Examine the KPIs shown in the dashboard panel - Discuss what each metric tells us about the health of the innovation pipeline - Brainstorm what additional metrics might be valuable to track

Activity 4: Role-Playing Scenarios - Assign different roles (submitter, reviewer, developer, end-user) - Work through scenarios where complications arise at different stages - Discuss how the process handles challenges and maintains momentum

Application and Practice

Immediate Next Steps - Direct participants to the actual idea submission portal - Encourage completion of the one-hour training program - Provide contact information for the GenAI CoE team

Ongoing Engagement - Explain how to stay informed about the program's progress - Discuss opportunities to participate in working groups or pilot testing - Encourage cross-departmental collaboration on similar challenges

Wrap-up and Reinforcement

Key Takeaways Review - Summarize the seven-stage process - Reinforce that everyone has a role in organizational AI innovation - Emphasize the systematic, supportive nature of the process

Resource Sharing - Distribute handouts with process summary and contact information - Share links to training programs and submission portals - Provide examples of successful idea submissions for reference

Commitment and Follow-up - Ask participants to commit to specific next steps - Schedule follow-up sessions for teams that want deeper engagement - Establish communication channels for ongoing questions and support

Discussion Questions for Team Review

Understanding the Process

  1. Process Flow: Walk through the seven stages of the GenAI CoE funnel in your own words. What is the primary purpose of each stage?

  2. Filtering Effect: Why does the funnel narrow from top to bottom? What are the benefits and potential drawbacks of this filtering approach?

  3. Timeline Expectations: Based on the process described, how long should someone expect from idea submission to potential deployment? What factors might accelerate or delay this timeline?

Personal and Team Application

  1. Opportunity Identification: What specific challenges or repetitive tasks in your daily work could potentially benefit from AI assistance? How would you begin to formulate these as concrete ideas?

  2. Idea Quality: Looking at the submission form elements, what additional information would you need to gather before submitting a well-formed idea? Who in your network could help you develop these details?

  3. Success Metrics: For a potential AI solution in your area, how would you measure success? What baseline data would you need to collect to demonstrate improvement?

Strategic Thinking

  1. Resource Allocation: Given that only 2-5 ideas are selected for development each month, what criteria should the expert panel prioritize? How would you balance quick wins vs. transformational projects?

  2. Cross-Functional Collaboration: How might teams with similar challenges work together through this process? What are the benefits and challenges of collaborative idea development?

  3. Risk Management: What types of risks should be considered when evaluating AI ideas? How does the systematic review process help mitigate these risks?

Organizational Impact

  1. Cultural Change: How does this structured approach to AI innovation differ from how new ideas are typically handled in our organization? What cultural shifts might be needed for success?

  2. Competitive Advantage: How does having a systematic AI innovation process help our organization compared to ad-hoc AI initiatives? What external factors should we consider?

  3. Continuous Improvement: Based on the dashboard metrics shown, what trends would indicate that the GenAI CoE is successful? What would suggest the need for process improvements?

Implementation Readiness

  1. Personal Preparation: What steps will you take to prepare yourself to contribute effectively to this process? What additional training or information do you need?

  2. Team Engagement: How will you share this information with your immediate team? What specific opportunities might exist for your department?

  3. Feedback and Iteration: If you submitted an idea that wasn't selected for development, what would you do next? How could the feedback help improve future submissions?

Future Considerations

  1. Scaling Success: As more AI solutions are deployed successfully, how should the organization scale this process? What new challenges might emerge?

  2. Technology Evolution: How should this process adapt as AI technology continues to evolve rapidly? What mechanisms exist for incorporating new capabilities?

  3. Measurement and ROI: Beyond the dashboard metrics shown, what other measures of success should the organization track? How do we balance quantitative and qualitative benefits?

Assessment and Follow-up

Teams should reconvene after initial exploration to discuss these questions and develop action plans for engagement with the GenAI CoE process. Consider scheduling follow-up sessions to review actual submissions and share early experiences with the process.

Review Quiz