A simple AI governance roadmap your whole business can follow
The DASUD AI Governance Roadmap Template for SMBs helps you align product, data, and risk teams around a single, clear view of each AI initiative.
Why you need more than ad‑hoc AI decisions
Your teams are shipping AI features – assistants, content tools, automations – but governance is scattered.
- Each team explains risk differently.
- Leadership asks “Where are we using AI and how is it controlled?” and the answers are fragmented.
- Full enterprise frameworks feel too heavy, but “just trust the vendor” doesn’t fly either.
You need a lightweight AI governance backbone that fits your size and existing ways of working.
Meet the DASUD AI Governance Roadmap Template (SMB Edition)
A structured, one‑page‑per‑use‑case template that maps each AI initiative across the full lifecycle: Design, Acquire, Store, Use, and Delete.
- Design – purpose, risk, oversight.
- Acquire – data, tools, models, RAG sources.
- Store – logs, embeddings, memories.
- Use – who can do what, oversight and monitoring.
- Delete – kill switches, retention, decommission.
Plus guidance for turning those roadmaps into a portfolio view for leadership and practical next steps for each team.
What’s inside the template
1. Use-case roadmap template
One template per AI initiative capturing:
- Business purpose and value.
- Risk tier (low, medium, high) and oversight mode.
- Data sources, RAG repositories, tools and APIs used.
- Storage and access details for AI artefacts.
- Oversight, monitoring, and incident hooks.
- Retirement and kill‑switch approach.
2. Portfolio summary view
A simple matrix that lists all AI use cases, their owners, stages, and risk tiers, so leadership can see your AI landscape at a glance.
- Perfect for exec updates and board packs.
- Helps prioritise where to invest in controls next.
3. Quick-start guide for busy teams
Short, practical guidance tailored for:
- Product and business owners
- Data and AI leads
- Risk and compliance
- IT and security
Each sees which parts of the template they own and what “good enough” looks like for an SMB.
What your business gets from this
- Clear answers for leadership – where you’re using AI, how risky it is, who owns what, and how you can switch it off.
- Fewer unknowns – the DASUD lens uncovers gaps in data, storage, oversight, or deletion.
- Alignment without new bureaucracy – one shared template instead of multiple ad‑hoc documents.
- Better conversations with customers and partners – show a credible governance approach when they ask about your AI practices.
Is this the right fit?
Designed for:
- Product‑led SMBs adding AI features to their software or services.
- Service businesses using AI in delivery (support, operations, content).
- Organisations with limited risk/legal headcount who still need clear governance.
Less suited for:
- Large enterprises with mature AI governance programs (you’ll need more customisation).
- Very small solo operations (the solopreneur edition will suit you better).
How teams use this inside your business
- Identify AI initiatives – list current and planned AI use cases.
- Assign owners – give each use case a product or initiative owner.
- Fill out the roadmap – a cross‑functional group completes one template per use case.
- Build the portfolio view – leadership gets a consolidated overview.
- Prioritise fixes – use roadmap gaps to drive 30–90 day actions.
Most SMBs see value in the first 1–2 weeks, even with a handful of use cases.
As many as you need—one template per use case; the portfolio view scales with you.
No. It gives them a structured starting point instead of a blank page.
No. It’s lifecycle-based (Design, Acquire, Store, Use, Delete) and works across tools, models, and vendors.
Nigel D'Souza 