Why assess maturity
You'll be able to Explain why a fixed start point is needed before planning the AI journey.
You can't plan a journey without a start point
A maturity assessment is the honest 'you are here'. Microsoft's own warning stands: without clear success criteria, organisations cannot tell whether Copilot delivers value. Score the start, then plan the route.
Check what you know
What is the main reason to assess maturity first?
No start point, no journey. Score 'you are here' before planning.
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Building a maturity model
You'll be able to Name the five dimensions to score and the levels Microsoft's model uses.
Five dimensions, five levels
Microsoft's Agentic AI adoption maturity model scores five dimensions — AI strategy and experience, business strategy, AI governance and security, technology and data, and organisation and culture — across levels from 100 (initial) up to 500 (efficient).
Score these five
- Strategy & experience — is there a formal AI strategy with an executive sponsor?
- Business strategy — are business metrics and human-agent teaming defined?
- Governance & security — is Responsible AI embedded, not bolted on?
- Technology & data — are platforms and data foundations ready and reusable?
- Organisation & culture — are champions and enablement active?
Check what you know
How many dimensions does Microsoft's maturity model score?
Score five dimensions (strategy, business, governance, technology, culture) on a 100–500 scale.
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Feeding the assessment with real Microsoft signals
You'll be able to Match each scoring dimension to a real Microsoft assessment that informs it.
Use real instruments, not guesses
Score honestly by feeding the model with evidence: the SAM Content Management Assessment, Purview DSPM data risk assessments, and the admin-center Copilot readiness report.
Signal to dimension
Check what you know
Which is a real Microsoft signal to feed the assessment?
Score with evidence: SAM assessment, Purview DSPM, the readiness report.
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Current-state baseline
You'll be able to Produce an honest, evidence-based current-state score across the five dimensions.
Be honest, cite evidence
For each dimension, record the level (100–500) and the evidence behind it. Resist scoring high to look good — the assessment only helps if it is honest.
Check what you know
What makes a current-state baseline useful?
Score honestly with evidence — a flattering baseline is a useless one.
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Target-state definition
You'll be able to Define a realistic target state at 6 and 12 months, tied back to the Stage 1 strategy.
Where this organisation needs to be
Set target levels for 6 and 12 months for each dimension. Anchor them to the outcomes you defined in Stage 1 — the target is in service of the strategy, not a score for its own sake.
Check what you know
What should the target state be tied back to?
Set 6- and 12-month targets tied to the strategy, not to the scoreboard.
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Gap analysis to roadmap
You'll be able to Turn the gap between current and target state into a sequenced plan that drives Stages 5–9.
The delta is your plan
The distance between current and target, per dimension, is the work. Sequence it into a roadmap: what to do in Envision, Deploy, Adopt, Run and Innovate. The biggest, highest-risk gaps go first.
From gap to roadmap
- List gaps — current vs target, per dimension.
- Prioritise — by value and risk.
- Sequence — map onto Stages 5–9.
- Own — assign each item to a person and a date.
Check what you know
What is the output of gap analysis?
The gap is the roadmap — prioritise by value and risk, then assign owners and dates.
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Sources & notes
Everything here traces to Microsoft Learn, retrieved June 2026.
Microsoft Learn sources used in this stage
- Agentic AI adoption maturity model
- Maturity model — AI governance and security (AI Council, Responsible AI)
- Content Management Assessment
- Prevent oversharing with data risk assessments from DSPM
- Microsoft 365 Copilot readiness report (admin center)
- Envision a successful adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot (Get ready)
Accuracy flags
- The original taxonomy said Microsoft does not publish a maturity model. As of 2026, Microsoft DOES publish the 'Agentic AI adoption maturity model'. This stage now cites it.
- A standalone, single 'Copilot Optimization Assessment' page was not retrieved this run. The grounded instruments used here are the SAM Content Management Assessment, Purview DSPM data risk assessments, and the admin-center Copilot readiness report. Verify the exact name 'Copilot Optimization Assessment' before quoting it.