Step 1: Establish Baseline (+4)

Step 1: Establish Baseline

Actions:

1. Identify current state metrics
2. Measure actual time/cost/effort
3. Document pain points with frequency
4. Quantify error rates or issues

Questions to Answer:

• How long does the current process take?
• How often is it performed?
• What is the current cost?

See sub-skills for full details.

Step 2: Define Target State

Actions:

1. Specify desired improvement
2. Set realistic targets
3. Identify automation opportunities
4. Define success criteria

Questions to Answer:

• What is the ideal state?
• What level of improvement is realistic?
• What can be automated vs. optimized?

See sub-skills for full details.

Step 3: Calculate Metrics

Actions:

1. Apply time savings formula
2. Calculate cost savings
3. Determine efficiency gains percentage
4. Aggregate across use cases

Validation:

• Are calculations accurate?
• Are assumptions documented?
• Are ranges provided where uncertain?

See sub-skills for full details.

Step 4: Validate and Document

Actions:

1. Verify calculations
2. Check for reasonableness
3. Document assumptions
4. Provide evidence or benchmarks

Validation Criteria:

• Math is correct
• Assumptions are explicit
• Comparisons are valid
• Evidence supports claims

Example:

## Validation


**Assumptions:**
- Hourly rate: $75/hour (blended rate for administrative work)
- Current invoice time: 15 minutes (observed average)
- Target invoice time: 2 minutes (based on similar automation)
- Frequency: 10 invoices/month (12-month average)

**Evidence:**
- Industry benchmark: 80-90% time reduction from invoice automation
- Internal pilot: 85% reduction achieved in test period
- Comparable systems: $10K-30K annual savings typical