AI Governance Skills Framework — Part I: Executive Functions

For the executive functions in Part I of the AI Governance Skills Framework, our research identified the executive knowledge and accountability attributes that support AI governance decision-making within organizations. Given the number of executive roles identified, these functions are organized into leadership groups of strategic, domain, and horizontal. For executive functions, the framework only includes knowledge and accountability requirements as AI governance represents only one component of the work that these roles do. As AI governance functions mature, it is likely that the amount of executives involved will be streamlined. However, at the moment, depending on how organizational leadership is structured, there is a reason to involve multiple leaders across the company in various aspects of AI governance.

It is important to note that these leaders are not likely to be involved in all AI governance decision making, only when relevant to their area of practice.

Strategic and domain leaders

Strategic leaders establish the organization's vision, priorities and risk appetite for AI and are the ultimate point of accountability. They ensure AI adoption advances business objectives, aligns with organizational values and receives appropriate investment and oversight across the enterprise.

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Horizontal leaders

Horizontal leaders provide specialized oversight capabilities that span the organization and support all AI-related activities regardless of business function. They establish organizational foundations necessary to enable consistent, scalable and responsible AI adoption across the enterprise.

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