Four Bridges
45-day KAI sprint

In 45 days, seven executives went from reactive ideas and conflicting priorities to a clear, confident plan to create value.

Four Bridges is an example firm. The numbers are real model output.
7Executives
45Days
1Plan
Executive team working together
KAI: Assess, Decide, Activate Three vertically arranged rings describing the KAI process: Assess, find what matters; Decide, define the value; Activate, turn the plan into progress. Assess Find what matters Decide Define the value Activate Turn the plan into progress
Seven steps from AI uncertainty to a funded plan Day 1 Week 1 Weeks 1–2 Weeks 2–3 Weeks 3–4 Weeks 4–5 Week 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ReadinessCheck StrategyInterview & Brief Kickoff &StakeholderSurvey Work-OutValue & Focus HeroHomework EconomicModel Build Work-Out 2Commit &Activate ASSESS DECIDE ACTIVATE

Seven steps from AI uncertainty to a funded plan

ASSESS
  1. 1Day 1Readiness Check
  2. 2Week 1Strategy Interview & Brief
DECIDE
  1. 3Weeks 1–2Kickoff & Stakeholder Survey
  2. 4Weeks 2–3Work-Out: Value & Focus
  3. 5Weeks 3–4Hero Homework
ACTIVATE
  1. 6Weeks 4–5Economic Model Build
  2. 7Week 6Work-Out 2: Commit & Activate
1
Weeks 1 & 2

Assess

They identified where and how AI could best support business strategy.

The Chief Strategy Officer gathered strategy documents and participated in a structured interview. All seven executives completed a survey to share their perspective. Then the operational assessment – conducted with a robust technology tool – showed where work was getting stuck and where opportunity existed.

Chief Strategy Officer being interviewed during the Assess phase
They saw clearly where work breaks down, where the biggest waste exists, and where AI could make a difference.
Operational assessment Top breakdown areas by annual impact Cross-functional handoffs $27M 88% Data rework & corrections $18M 61% Manual approvals $16M 56% System handoffs $12M 38% AI-ready workflows identified 7 AI-ready workflows 24 Breakdowns found
KAI Tools

KAI Survey Tool

KAI Operational Assessment Technology Tool

Two executives working through AI priorities
2
Weeks 3 – 5

Decide

They agreed on where AI can create meaningful value and work operationally.

Through a series of work-out sessions, the team aligned on the highest impact opportunities. Using the KAI economic model, they quantified the potential value and defined the confidence level behind it.

They aligned on where AI creates value, which opportunities to advance, and what the investment could return.
Opportunity Scorecard Opportunity Value Readiness Advisor Meeting PrepHigh Client OnboardingHigh Fraud ProtectionHigh Product DevelopmentMedium Audit SupportMedium Investment ResearchMedium Customer InsightsLow Regulatory ReportingLow
KAI Tools

KAI Benchmarking and Opportunity Scorecard

KAI Economic Model

AI Value Map

The Four Decisions on one page

Prepared For
Four Bridges
Facilitated By
Nicole D.
Session Date
9/15/26
Version
1.0
01

VALUE

The Value Decision

How does AI enable our business strategy and what economic value do we want it to deliver?

AI’s Role in the Business
A performance engine, not a cost play.
Augment advisors to expand the business
Value Prioritization
  • 1Expansion
  • 2Effectiveness
  • 3Efficiency
  • 4Erosion Prevention
Metrics That Prove Success
Incremental growth of 15%
02

FOCUS

The Focus Decision

Where will we focus and how is the work changed? Is it reimagined, augmented, or automated?

Phase 1 · Advance Now
Work Mode
Hero
  • 1Advisor Meeting PrepAugment
  • 2Client OnboardingAutomate
  • 3Investment Research SynthesisReimagine
  • 4Transaction & Account MaintenanceAutomate
Subsequent Phases
Proposal Generation
03

ECONOMICS

The Investment Decision

What is it worth, what does it cost and what do we authorize?

Economics Envelope - Hero
3-year cumulative value, base case
$1.56M
Range, low to high
$.77M – 2.78M
Cost envelope, 3-year TCO
.4m-.5M
Payback year
Year One
Authorization Signal
✓Advance to Activation Conditional Defer
04

COMMITMENT

The Commitment Decision

What resources and activities are we committing to this effort?

Action Plan
Selected project name
Advisor Meeting Prep
Owner
Marcus Chen
Stakeholders impacted
50 Advisors
Resources
Technology lead, training sessions
Dependencies
Salesforce data input
Start date10.1.2026
Success Measure75%+ adoption, 45-min. saved per mtg.
Two executives mapping out a 90-day AI activation plan on a whiteboard
3
Week 6

Activate

They rolled out a 90-day plan and supporting communications to set things in motion.

They completed a one-page value map, a 90-day operational plan, and a communications platform to engage employees and keep the board informed.

Operational Plan

  • Opportunity scorecard
  • Hero opportunity
  • How work will change
  • 90-day action plan

Communications Messaging

Key messages to keep employees and the board updated.
45 Days Later They had clarity and a plan. One hero opportunity selected High value. High readiness. Clear path to impact. Economic case built Conservative assumptions with confidence ranges and payback. 90-day plan in place Owners, milestones, measures, and decision gates defined. Organization aligned A communications plan to keep everyone informed and engaged. AI value map in hand Strategy. Opportunities. Economics. Commitments. All on one page.
45Days Later

They had clarity and a plan.

  • One hero opportunity selectedHigh value. High readiness. Clear path to impact.
  • Economic case builtConservative assumptions with confidence ranges and payback.
  • 90-day plan in placeOwners, milestones, measures, and decision gates defined.
  • Organization alignedA communications plan to keep everyone informed and engaged.
  • AI value map in handStrategy. Opportunities. Economics. Commitments. All on one page.
Sondra Kiss
Managing Partner, Kissinger Group

Want to explore if a 45-day KAI sprint is right for your organization? Grab time on my calendar — I’m happy to talk it through.

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