Build the Governance Committee Before You Build the Use Case

AI projects cut across too many domains for one team to govern alone. A cross-functional committee, formed before the project advances, should cover:

1. Cross-Functional Membership: Technology SMEs, solution owners, legal counsel, infosec, compliance, and management representation.
2. Early Involvement: Brought in at the design stage, not just for final sign-off.
3. Use Case Scrutiny: Is this use case necessary, and is the data appropriate for it?
4. Risk Reduction Options: Could a different deployment model lower exposure?
5. Business Justification: Does the intended benefit actually justify the risk?
6. Ongoing Oversight: Stays engaged through the project, not a one-time review.

The mindset shift most organizations still need: the question isn't only "can we make this work?" It's "should we, and under what conditions?"