A six-level ladder

Use this operational ladder to describe what people can depend on today:

0. None — the capability does not exist in a dependable form.
1. Individual — a person can perform it, often using personal knowledge or tools.
2. Approved — the organization has accepted a method, tool, or policy.
3. Integrated — the capability is built into normal workflow.
4. Connected — it uses relevant data and coordinates across systems or teams.
5. AI-native — learning, generation, prediction, or intelligent action is fundamental to how the capability works.

These levels describe dependable operational capability, with or without AI. A documented invoicing checklist with named responsibility, routinely used in the normal workflow, may be level 3 even though it contains no AI. The evidence has to support the assessment. A pilot or vendor promise alone doesn't establish level 5.

Keep an unknown assessment marked unassessed. Zero means you have determined that no dependable capability exists; it doesn't mean you haven't looked yet. This ladder isn't a percentage of AI use, and its numbers are separate from the opportunity scores in the next chapter.