Back to Learn

Selecting the Right Problems: The FIVES Framework

A practical framework for evaluating which automation opportunities are worth pursuing in your organization.

PickleLlama Team
November 15, 2024
3 min read
FrameworkStrategyDecision MakingFIVES

Introduction

Not every problem is worth solving with automation. The difference between successful AI initiatives and failed ones often comes down to problem selection, not technical execution.

The FIVES framework helps you evaluate potential automation opportunities systematically, ensuring you invest in projects with the highest likelihood of success and business impact.

The FIVES Framework

FIVES stands for five critical evaluation criteria:

F - Frequency

How often does this problem occur?

  • Daily or hourly: High priority - automation ROI compounds quickly
  • Weekly: Moderate priority - worth evaluating
  • Monthly or less: Lower priority - may not justify investment

I - Impact

What's the business impact of solving this problem?

  • Revenue increase potential
  • Cost reduction
  • Risk mitigation
  • Customer satisfaction improvement
  • Employee experience enhancement

V - Variability

How consistent is the problem and its solution?

  • Low variability: Ideal for automation - clear rules, predictable outcomes
  • Medium variability: Suitable with proper exception handling
  • High variability: May require human judgment, AI assistance rather than full automation

E - Existing Data

What data already exists to support automation?

  • Historical records and patterns
  • Digital vs. paper-based processes
  • Data quality and accessibility
  • Integration requirements

S - Stakeholder Readiness

Are the people involved ready for change?

  • Process owner engagement
  • Team willingness to adopt new tools
  • Leadership support
  • Change management capacity

Scoring and Prioritization

Each criterion is scored on a scale of 1-5. Projects scoring above 18 (out of 25) are typically strong candidates for automation investment.

However, the framework isn't about finding a magic number—it's about having structured conversations about where to focus limited resources.

Common Patterns

Through applying FIVES across dozens of organizations, we've identified common patterns:

High-scoring candidates often include:

  • Invoice processing and accounts payable
  • Customer onboarding data entry
  • Report generation and distribution
  • Scheduling and resource allocation

Lower-scoring candidates that seem attractive:

  • "AI for everything" initiatives without clear scope
  • Processes that work well manually
  • Edge cases that require extensive judgment

Using the Framework

We've created an interactive FIVES worksheet tool that guides you through the evaluation process. You can use it to:

  1. Evaluate multiple opportunities side by side
  2. Document your reasoning for each criterion
  3. Generate a prioritized roadmap for your team

Want to evaluate your automation opportunities? Try our FIVES Worksheet Tool or schedule a conversation with our team.