How AEVA Works

Problem

Governance frameworks fail when they live outside the delivery workflow. Teams under pressure skip compliance steps.

How it works

• - Embeds a 15-minute AI Risk Review into every sprint retrospective
• - Adds AI tool assessment as a standing item in sprint planning
• - Creates a lightweight risk token system — each new AI tool requires a token before use
• - Produces an automatic audit trail from existing agile ceremonies with no extra overhead

In practice

At Yamaha, the first retrospective with the AEVA AI Risk Review revealed 7 unsanctioned tools in active use across 2 teams.

Connects to

Enterprise AI Visibility · Alignment Architecture

Problem

You cannot govern what you cannot see. Most enterprises have no inventory of AI tools in use.

How it works

• - Deploys a lightweight AI tool declaration process — form-based, not bureaucratic
• - Builds a live AI tool registry: name, purpose, data access, risk tier, owner
• - Classifies each tool: Sanctioned / Under Review / Unsanctioned
• - Triggers automatic review workflow for any Unsanctioned classification

In practice

At Yamaha, the first AI tool inventory revealed tools accessing customer data without any security review. Two were immediately suspended.

Connects to

Agile Governance Layer · Alignment Architecture

Problem

Governance that slows teams down gets bypassed. The fastest way to create Shadow AI is to make sanctioned AI usage too slow.

How it works

• - Pre-approves entire categories of low-risk tools — teams do not wait for individual approvals
• - Creates a fast lane declaration process — low-risk tools approved within 24 hours
• - Separates governance overhead from delivery overhead
• - Measures governance overhead per sprint and actively reduces it

In practice

At Etihad, official AI procurement took 6 weeks. AEVA's fast lane reduced approval to 48 hours for low-risk tools — Shadow AI adoption dropped immediately.

Connects to

All dimensions — velocity is the design constraint that shapes everything

Problem

AI tool decisions made at team level are invisible at board level. Risk accumulates without anyone having a complete picture.

How it works

• - Produces a monthly AI Governance Dashboard — board-ready, one page
• - Maps every AI tool to the organisation's risk appetite framework
• - Connects tool usage data to regulatory requirements (DPDP, GDPR, ISO 42001)
• - Creates escalation triggers — when risk threshold is crossed, governance lead is notified automatically

In practice

At Yamaha, the first AEVA Alignment Architecture output was a one-page board summary showing AI tool risk exposure across 5 departments — the first time leadership had seen the complete picture.

Connects to

Enterprise AI Visibility · Agile Governance Layer