What's inside the playbook
A practical guide to choosing the right AI use cases, building the foundations and moving from a promising pilot to scaled clinical practice.
The paradox
Why promising AI initiatives stall before reaching scaled production, even when the technology works.
Three hard truths
The recurring problems behind failed scale: layering AI onto broken processes, solving the wrong problem and failing to embed change.
The ten-question use-case test
Decide whether AI is genuinely the right answer before selecting a tool or committing budget.
Current vs to-be state template
Redesign the workflow and identify the process, system and data changes needed before adding AI.
Agentic AI governance
Define identity, permissions, human accountability, oversight and the evidence required when agents act.
The 20-question scale-readiness diagnostic
Identify the operational, data, governance and change gaps most likely to prevent your use case from scaling.
Before you download.
Five practical questions about who the playbook is for, what it covers and how to use it with your team.
Who is this playbook for?
Sponsor leaders across Clinical Operations, Clinical Technology, Digital Health, Innovation, QA and Regulatory leaders deciding where AI can create real value in clinical research.
It is particularly relevant if you have a pilot that has stalled, are assessing a new use case, or want to avoid the operational, data and governance gaps that commonly prevent AI from scaling.
Is this an AI hype piece?
No. The playbook is pro-AI but problem-led.
It starts from the operational problem and asks whether AI is the right answer, not from the AI capability and asks where to apply it.
What will I get from the playbook?
A practical, 19-page guide to choosing the right AI use cases, designing the target workflow, identifying system and data gaps, establishing governance and preparing for scale.
It includes a 10-question use-case test, a current-state to target-state template, the Pilot to Practice framework and a 20-question scale-readiness assessment.
How should I use the scale-readiness assessment?
Use it as a structured discussion tool with Clinical Operations, Technology, Data, QA, Regulatory and relevant suppliers.
It is not a validated maturity model. The score helps surface where further discussion is needed, but the real value lies in identifying the operational, data and governance gaps behind it.
What happens after I download it?
You will receive an email from Farrell with access to the playbook and a short note on how to use it.
We may also share occasional related OptiTrial insights. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Want to apply it to a live use case?
Once you have read the playbook, the next step is to apply it to one of your own use cases. Book a complimentary 60-minute AI Use Case Diagnostic.
Bring an AI use case you are scoping, a pilot that is not scaling, or a vendor proposal you need a second read on. You will leave with a clear view of the two operational, data or governance blockers most likely to prevent scale.