Effective Work Samples for Evaluating AI Solution Selection Skills

Selecting the right AI solutions for specific departmental needs has become a critical skill in today's technology-driven business environment. Organizations increasingly rely on individuals who can bridge the gap between technical AI capabilities and practical business requirements. These professionals must understand both the technological landscape and the unique challenges faced by different departments.

Evaluating candidates for this skill requires more than just reviewing resumes or conducting standard interviews. Practical work samples provide a window into how candidates approach the complex process of matching AI solutions to business problems. These exercises reveal a candidate's ability to gather requirements, evaluate options, build business cases, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

The best candidates demonstrate not only technical knowledge of AI capabilities but also business acumen and interpersonal skills. They understand how to translate departmental needs into technical requirements, evaluate vendors objectively, and present recommendations in a way that resonates with decision-makers. These skills are difficult to assess through traditional interview questions alone.

By implementing the work samples outlined below, organizations can more effectively identify candidates who possess the right blend of technical understanding, business insight, and communication skills needed for successful AI solution selection. These exercises simulate real-world scenarios that candidates would likely encounter in the role, providing a more accurate prediction of on-the-job performance.

Activity #1: Department Needs Assessment and Requirements Gathering

This activity evaluates a candidate's ability to identify and translate departmental business challenges into clear requirements for AI solutions. Successful AI implementation begins with a thorough understanding of the problem to be solved and the specific needs of stakeholders. This exercise tests the candidate's skill in asking the right questions, listening effectively, and documenting requirements in a structured manner.

Directions for the Company:

• Prepare a brief (1-2 page) description of a department with a business challenge that could potentially be addressed with AI. For example, a marketing department struggling with customer segmentation or an operations team dealing with supply chain inefficiencies.
• Assign a company employee to role-play as the department head who has limited technical knowledge but deep understanding of their business challenges.
• Provide the candidate with basic information about the company and department 24 hours before the exercise.
• Allocate 30 minutes for the requirements gathering session and 15 minutes for the candidate to organize their findings.
• Prepare a conference room or virtual meeting space with whiteboarding capabilities.

Directions for the Candidate:

• Review the provided company and department information before the exercise.
• Conduct a 30-minute requirements gathering session with the "department head" to understand their challenges, goals, constraints, and success metrics.
• Use active listening and appropriate questioning techniques to uncover both stated and unstated needs.
• After the session, take 15 minutes to organize your findings into a structured requirements document that could be used to evaluate potential AI solutions.
• Your document should include: business objectives, key requirements, constraints (budget, timeline, integration needs), and success metrics.

Feedback Mechanism:

• The interviewer should provide feedback on the candidate's questioning technique, listening skills, and ability to translate business problems into potential AI solution requirements.
• Specifically highlight one aspect of the requirements gathering that was done well and one area for improvement.
• Give the candidate 5-10 minutes to revise their approach or requirements document based on the feedback.

Activity #2: AI Solution Evaluation and Comparison

This exercise assesses the candidate's ability to objectively evaluate multiple AI solutions against a set of requirements. It tests their knowledge of the AI landscape, critical thinking skills, and ability to make data-driven recommendations. This skill is essential for ensuring that selected solutions truly meet departmental needs rather than simply adopting the latest technology trend.

Directions for the Company:

• Create a scenario with a specific department need and a set of requirements for an AI solution (e.g., a customer service chatbot, predictive maintenance system, or sales forecasting tool).
• Prepare information sheets on three different AI solutions or vendors that could potentially address the need, each with different strengths and weaknesses.
• Include realistic details such as pricing models, technical specifications, implementation timelines, and customer testimonials.
• Provide a template for the evaluation matrix if desired.
• Allow 45-60 minutes for the exercise.

Directions for the Candidate:

• Review the department need, requirements, and information on the three AI solutions.
• Create an evaluation matrix with appropriate criteria weighted according to the importance of each requirement.
• Score each solution against the criteria, providing brief justifications for your ratings.
• Prepare a one-page summary of your recommendation, including:
• The recommended solution and key reasons for selection
• Top strengths and potential weaknesses of the recommended solution
• Implementation considerations
• Alternative options if the primary recommendation isn't feasible
• Be prepared to explain your evaluation methodology and defend your recommendation.

Feedback Mechanism:

• The interviewer should provide feedback on the candidate's evaluation criteria, scoring methodology, and recommendation rationale.
• Point out one particularly effective aspect of their evaluation and one area where the analysis could be strengthened.
• Ask the candidate to revise their recommendation based on the feedback, focusing specifically on the area identified for improvement.

Activity #3: Business Case Development for AI Implementation

This activity evaluates the candidate's ability to build a compelling business case for an AI solution. It tests their financial acumen, understanding of ROI calculations, and ability to articulate both tangible and intangible benefits. This skill is crucial for securing stakeholder buy-in and budget approval for AI initiatives.

Directions for the Company:

• Develop a scenario for an AI implementation opportunity with sufficient detail about the current process, challenges, and potential benefits.
• Provide relevant financial information such as current operational costs, potential implementation costs, and industry benchmarks.
• Include information about organizational priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Prepare a business case template or outline if desired.
• Allow 60 minutes for the exercise.

Directions for the Candidate:

• Review the scenario and financial information provided.
• Develop a business case for implementing the AI solution that includes:
• Executive summary
• Current situation analysis
• Proposed solution overview
• Cost-benefit analysis with ROI calculations
• Implementation timeline and resource requirements
• Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
• Success metrics and measurement approach
• Focus on both quantitative benefits (cost savings, revenue increases) and qualitative benefits (improved customer experience, employee satisfaction).
• Prepare to present your business case in a 10-minute presentation.

Feedback Mechanism:

• The interviewer should provide feedback on the strength of the business case, particularly the financial analysis and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Highlight one element of the business case that was particularly compelling and one area that needs strengthening.
• Give the candidate 10-15 minutes to revise the identified section of the business case based on the feedback.

Activity #4: Stakeholder Communication Plan

This exercise assesses the candidate's ability to develop an effective communication strategy for an AI implementation. It tests their understanding of different stakeholder perspectives, communication channels, and change management principles. This skill is essential for ensuring successful adoption of AI solutions across the organization.

Directions for the Company:

• Create a scenario for an AI solution that has been selected and will be implemented in a specific department.
• Provide information about key stakeholder groups, including their roles, concerns, and communication preferences.
• Include details about the organization's culture, previous technology implementations, and any potential resistance points.
• Allow 45 minutes for the exercise.

Directions for the Candidate:

• Review the scenario and stakeholder information provided.
• Develop a comprehensive communication plan that includes:
• Identification of all relevant stakeholder groups
• Key messages tailored to each stakeholder group
• Communication channels and timing
• Approach for addressing concerns and resistance
• Methods for gathering feedback throughout implementation
• Success metrics for the communication plan itself
• Create a sample communication artifact (e.g., executive briefing slide, department announcement email, or training invitation) for one key stakeholder group.
• Be prepared to explain how your communication plan supports successful implementation and adoption of the AI solution.

Feedback Mechanism:

• The interviewer should provide feedback on the comprehensiveness of the stakeholder analysis and the effectiveness of the tailored messaging.
• Point out one particularly strong element of the communication plan and one area that could be improved.
• Ask the candidate to revise their sample communication artifact based on the feedback provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should each of these activities take?

Each activity is designed to take between 45-60 minutes, including time for the candidate to review materials, complete the exercise, and receive feedback. For remote assessments, consider providing materials in advance and scheduling a follow-up session for presentation and feedback.

Should these exercises be conducted in person or remotely?

These exercises can be adapted for either in-person or remote settings. For remote assessments, ensure candidates have access to necessary collaboration tools (video conferencing, document sharing, virtual whiteboards). In-person assessments may provide better opportunities to observe interpersonal skills during role-plays.

How should we evaluate candidates across multiple exercises?

Create a standardized scoring rubric for each exercise that aligns with the key skills being assessed. Weight the scores based on the importance of each skill to your specific role. Consider having multiple evaluators to reduce bias and provide diverse perspectives.

What if a candidate has experience with different AI technologies than those in our exercises?

The exercises are designed to test the process of AI solution selection rather than knowledge of specific technologies. Focus evaluation on the candidate's approach, critical thinking, and communication skills rather than their familiarity with particular AI solutions. Their transferable skills in evaluation and selection are more important than specific product knowledge.

How can we customize these exercises for our industry or specific AI needs?

Replace the generic scenarios with situations relevant to your industry and the specific departments you support. Use realistic data, challenges, and constraints from your organization. Consider incorporating actual AI vendors or solutions you've evaluated in the past to make the exercise more authentic.

Should candidates have access to the internet or other resources during these exercises?

This depends on your goals. Allowing internet access creates a more realistic scenario, as professionals typically research solutions on the job. However, limiting resources may better test the candidate's existing knowledge. Consider which approach better reflects how the role will function in your organization.

AI solution selection is a multifaceted skill that combines technical knowledge, business acumen, and interpersonal abilities. By using these practical work samples, you can more effectively identify candidates who can successfully bridge the gap between AI capabilities and departmental needs. The right talent in this area can dramatically improve your organization's technology adoption success rate and return on AI investments.

For more resources to enhance your hiring process, check out Yardstick's AI Job Descriptions, AI Interview Question Generator, and AI Interview Guide Generator. These tools can help you build comprehensive interview processes that identify the best talent for your organization's AI initiatives.

Want to build a full interview guide for evaluating AI solution selection skills? Sign up for a free Yardstick account