AI FinOps Onsite Workshop – Facilitator Guide
Purpose
Enable delivery teams to run effective AI FinOps workshops that establish financial literacy, define measurable KPIs, and set justifiable value targets for AI agent initiatives.
Required Components
- AI FinOps terminology glossaryDRAFT
- Token economics calculator templateTODO
- KPI definition worksheetTODO
- Value target frameworkTODO
- Partner integration overview (Jellyfish, Pay-i)DRAFT
Workshop Agenda (Half-Day: 4 Hours)
Block 1: Foundation & Education (90 minutes)
Objective: Level-set all participants on AI FinOps terminology and economics
| Time | Activity | Facilitator Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00-0:15 | Welcome & Context Setting | Connect to overall OAIO journey; why FinOps matters now |
| 0:15-0:45 | AI Economics 101 | Interactive education module |
| - Token fundamentals | What tokens are, input vs. output costs | |
| - Model tiers & pricing | Frontier vs. mid-tier vs. efficient models | |
| - Cost drivers | Context windows, agent loops, output verbosity | |
| 0:45-1:00 | Cost Evolution Story | Show dramatic cost reduction trajectory |
| Use infographic: "18 months ago this cost $X, today it costs $Y" | ||
| 1:00-1:15 | Break-Even Economics | API vs. self-hosted decision framework |
| 1:15-1:30 | Q&A + Knowledge Check | Quick quiz to validate understanding |
Block 2: Economic Classification (45 minutes)
Objective: Classify each prioritized agent opportunity by economic purpose
| Time | Activity | Facilitator Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30-1:45 | Bottom Line vs. Top Line Framework | Present the two economic archetypes |
| - Bottom line: Cost reduction agents | Labor savings, error reduction, cycle time | |
| - Top line: Revenue generation agents | New capacity, conversion, speed-to-market | |
| 1:45-2:15 | Agent Classification Exercise | Breakout tables classify their prioritized opportunities |
| Each agent gets: economic thesis statement + primary value driver |
Exercise Output: Each agent has a completed sentence:
"This agent exists to [reduce cost X / generate revenue Y] by [specific mechanism]."
Block 3: KPI Development (60 minutes)
Objective: Define measurable indicators that prove agent value
| Time | Activity | Facilitator Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2:15-2:30 | KPI Framework Introduction | Four categories of AI value metrics |
| 2:30-3:00 | KPI Selection Workshop | Teams select 2-3 KPIs per agent |
| 3:00-3:15 | Measurement Feasibility Check | Can we actually measure these today? |
The Four KPI Categories
1. Efficiency KPIs (Bottom Line)
- Hours saved per week/month
- Tasks automated (count)
- Error/rework reduction rate
- Cycle time reduction (days → hours)
2. Capacity KPIs (Top Line)
- Additional throughput enabled
- New customers/requests serviceable
- Time-to-market acceleration
3. Quality KPIs (Both)
- Consistency scores
- Compliance/accuracy rates
- Customer satisfaction deltas
4. Economic KPIs (FinOps)
- Cost per task/transaction
- ROI ratio (value delivered / cost incurred)
- Payback period
Block 4: Value Target Setting (45 minutes)
Objective: Establish justifiable, beneficial targets for each KPI
| Time | Activity | Facilitator Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3:15-3:30 | Target Setting Framework | How to set targets that are ambitious but credible |
| 3:30-3:50 | Target Workshop | Teams set 6-month and 12-month targets |
| 3:50-4:00 | Commitment & Close | Finance stakeholder validation |
Target Setting Methodology
Step 1: Establish Baseline
- What is the current state? (must be measurable)
- What does "good enough" look like vs. "transformational"?
Step 2: Industry Benchmarking
- What have similar organizations achieved?
- What do vendor case studies show? (discount by 30-50%)
Step 3: Constraint Analysis
- What limits adoption speed? (change management, data readiness)
- What's realistic given organizational capacity?
Step 4: Value Thresholds
| Target Type | Definition | Use For |
|---|---|---|
| Floor | Minimum acceptable | Go/no-go decision |
| Target | Expected outcome | Planning & budgeting |
| Stretch | Optimistic upside | Incentive alignment |
Workshop Outputs
By end of session, each prioritized agent should have:
- Economic Classification: Bottom line (cost) or Top line (revenue)
- Economic Thesis: One-sentence value statement
- KPI Selection: 2-3 measurable indicators with data sources identified
- Value Targets: Floor / Target / Stretch for 6-month and 12-month horizons
- Finance Validation: CFO or finance representative sign-off on targets
Pre-Work Requirements
Participants must complete before attending:
- Read: Pillar 5 narrative (AI FinOps & Operational Economics)
- Complete: Agent prioritization (Pillar 1 outputs required)
- Gather: Current baseline metrics for relevant processes
- Invite: Finance stakeholder must attend Block 4
Facilitator Preparation
Materials Needed
- Cost evolution infographic (printed or displayed)
- Token economics calculator (spreadsheet)
- KPI worksheet templates (one per agent)
- Target setting framework cards
- Flip charts / whiteboard for group work
Key Facilitation Notes
- This workshop requires completed Pillar 1 outputs (prioritized agent opportunities)
- Finance stakeholder presence in Block 4 is non-negotiable for target validation
- Push back on vague KPIs: "improve efficiency" is not a KPI
- Document assumptions behind every target for future reference
- If baseline data doesn't exist, create a task to establish it before setting targets
Post-Workshop Actions
| Owner | Action | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| OAIO Team | Compile Agent Economics Register | Within 3 days |
| Client Finance | Validate targets with leadership | Within 1 week |
| OAIO Team | Build cost forecast models | Within 2 weeks |
| Client IT | Confirm observability tool requirements | Within 2 weeks |
See Pillar 5 narrative for complete AI FinOps methodology.