Questionnaire Framework

A structured set of governance-focused questions used during design, procurement, or deployment to ensure AI systems align with policy requirements.

Definition

A templated checklist—covering data sources, privacy considerations, fairness protections, security controls, and compliance obligations—that AI teams complete at project initiation. Questionnaires ensure consistent risk assessments, uncover gaps early, and drive alignment to organizational standards. Responses feed into automated scoring tools or governance dashboards, triggering additional reviews when high-risk answers are flagged.

Real-World Example

A bank requires all AI vendors to complete a procurement questionnaire: “Do you store data in EU-only data centers?” “Have you conducted a bias audit?” “Describe your incident-response process.” Only vendors who answer satisfactorily proceed to pilot, ensuring upfront governance alignment and reducing downstream surprises.