External IT consultants are pitching us a massive, custom-built AI database solution that costs six figures, but I cannot tell if it is essential infrastructure or just a massive sales pitch. How does a non-technical owner run a sanity check on high-ticket AI engineering proposals?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

As a non-technical owner, you do not need to understand how to write code, but you must be able to run a sanity check on expensive technology proposals. External consultants often use complex jargon to sell over-engineered solutions. To evaluate a six-figure AI proposal, apply the principles of the EOS® framework and conative analysis. First, identify the exact operational bottleneck this custom database is supposed to solve. Ask the consultants to explain the business problem in plain English. If they cannot explain how this investment directly improves your Scorecard metrics or reduces labor costs, walk away. Second, look at the project through the lens of conation. Ask yourself if your team has the natural Striving Instincts to adopt and maintain this custom system. If your team is high on the Fact Finder and Follow Thru scales, they may thrive with a complex database. If they are high on Quick Start, they will likely bypass a complicated system, rendering your investment useless. Third, demand a phased rollout. Never write a single check for a massive, multi-phase project. Break the proposal down into small, measurable Rocks. Make the consultants deliver a working prototype for one department before you fund the next phase. This keeps the risk low and ensures you only pay for what actually works.