Owners, managers, and supervisors at small and mid-sized businesses are being asked to make AI decisions without a playbook. Which tasks should the team use AI for? Which tools are safe? How do you know it is paying off? What do you tell a worried employee? This instructor-led course gives managers a practical way to lead AI adoption in their own team. Trainees use AI themselves for management work, such as drafting a performance-neutral team update, preparing for a difficult conversation, and summarizing a vendor proposal, in their approved tool (Microsoft 365 Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude). They then work through a use-case selection matrix, a simple ROI and time-savings calculation, a one-page team AI use guideline, and a change and communication plan. Cases come from fictional Massachusetts businesses in manufacturing, healthcare, insurance, construction, and hospitality. The course covers how to supervise AI-assisted work, how to protect customer and employee data under Massachusetts law, and how to measure results without surveillance. Each manager completes a 90-day AI adoption plan for their own team, reviewed by peers and the instructor, ready to start the following week. Designed for supervisors, managers, department heads, and owners. No technical background needed.
What you will be able to do
By the end of the course, trainees will be able to:
- Use AI for three management tasks and judge each output for accuracy, fairness, and tone.
- Score at least five candidate use cases for their team on value, risk, data sensitivity, and effort, and select two to pilot.
- Calculate expected time savings and cost for a pilot using a simple worksheet.
- Draft a one-page team AI use guideline aligned with the employer's policy and Massachusetts data rules.
- Write a 90-day AI adoption plan with milestones, a training plan, measures, and a communication plan for staff.
Who this course is for
First-line supervisors; General and operations managers; Department managers; Practice and office managers; Small business owners; Project and program managers
Before you start
Supervises at least one person or owns a team process. FAST-01 or equivalent recommended.
Hands-on activities
- Manager's own-use lab: three management tasks in the approved tool.
- Use-case selection matrix with fictional North Shore Builders and Pioneer Valley Mutual cases.
- ROI worksheet: hours saved times loaded wage minus tool and training cost.
- Role-play: responding to an employee worried AI will replace their job.
- Peer review of 90-day plans.
How your learning is measured
- Attendance at all three sessions.
- Use-case matrix and ROI worksheet (Meets / Not yet).
- Team AI use guideline reviewed against a checklist.
- Final 90-day adoption plan scored against rubric and peer-reviewed.
