Module 1 • 22 min
The AI Automation Landscape
Distinguish the automation categories before selecting a solution.Core Concept
Effective strategy starts by separating conventional automation, workflow automation, generative AI, AI-assisted work, and AI agents. Each has a different operating fit and risk profile.
This choice influences the value case, implementation effort, governance requirements, and the organization’s ability to operate the system after launch.
The Five Categories
- Conventional Automation:Uses fixed rules to complete repeatable steps, such as sending a notification when a form is approved. It is the right fit when the decision logic is stable and explicit.
- Workflow Automation:Coordinates a known sequence of work across people and systems, including triggers, handoffs, approvals, and status changes. It improves the flow without requiring open-ended reasoning.
- Generative AI:Produces or transforms content, such as a draft, summary, extraction, or classification, from supplied context. It needs clear grounding and review when accuracy or tone matters.
- AI-Assisted Work:Places AI inside a human-operated workflow to suggest, prepare, or accelerate work while the person retains responsibility for the decision and action.
- AI Agents:Use context and approved tools to work toward a defined task, choose among allowed next steps, and escalate when they reach a confidence or policy boundary. They require the strongest operating controls because they introduce more autonomy.
How to Apply the Framework
Choose the category that matches the workflow problem, rather than beginning with a preferred tool.
Use a current workflow, its measurable baseline, and the real people and systems involved. A strategy that works only in a simplified example is not yet a decision-ready operating plan.
Decision Checklist
- State the business outcome and the bounded workflow this decision will improve.
- Identify the accountable business owner, technical owner, and required human reviewer.
- Confirm the evidence, dependencies, controls, and decision gate required before moving forward.
Worked Decision Scenario
A customer-service leader wants to reduce time spent answering routine status questions. The team separates the work into fixed notifications, a workflow that routes exceptions, generative drafting for a response, and an agent only where approved tools and escalation are needed.
This decomposition avoids buying an agent for a problem that a simpler rule or workflow can solve. The selected category is based on the decision and operating burden, not on the appeal of the newest capability.
Apply it
Working Exercise
Which automation category best fits one current business problem?
Saved locally for this review prototype. Your response will become private account data when the approved course backend is connected.