Recommendation
A proposed course of action offered by an advisor to a decision-maker. A recommendation is high-quality information, not a decision, until a named decision-maker commits to it and owns the consequences. A strong advisor makes a recommendation ownable by stating what they would do, naming the standard, surfacing the downside, and marking the ownership boundary.
Defined in 4 GAGE programs, which carry 4 distinct definitions of it. The wording above is taught in Certified AI Governance Professional (CAIGP).
How each discipline defines it
The same term does different work depending on who is using it. These are the definitions as each program teaches them, unedited.
A proposed course of action offered by an advisor to a decision-maker. A recommendation is high-quality information, not a decision, until a named decision-maker commits to it and owns the consequences. A strong advisor makes a recommendation ownable by stating what they would do, naming the standard, surfacing the downside, and marking the ownership boundary.
A specific, addressed, actionable proposal in a report, tied to a named finding and directed at a specific party positioned to act on it. A recommendation with no traceable finding behind it is unearned by the report's evidence.
The smallest change that addresses the cause. Distinguished from the four elements, which the standard defines, and from the action, which is management's commitment.
The fourth part of this topic's briefing structure: a single, clear, unhedged statement of the position your organization actually holds.
Where it is taught
The exact lessons this term appears in. The first module of every program is free with a free account.
- Why decisions, not information, will make you the expert · Taking Command, Certified AI Governance Professional (CAIGP)
- Briefing Lawmakers: Complex AI Issues into Clear Decision Points · Policy Influence in Practice, The AI Lobbyist: Certified AI Policy Strategist
- Findings and professional writing · Internal Audit, Assurance, and Evidence, Certified Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance Professional (CEGP)
- Reading and writing a post-incident report · Failure Analysis, Learning From How Robots Break, Engineering Judgment and Professional Formation
Where it shows up at work
A definition is where Recommendation starts. The lessons above teach it inside the competencies below, which are what job descriptions ask for and what the GAGE credential records. Every link here is drawn from the same careers map that builds a role's readiness check.
Scopes an AI audit, sets criteria, samples, interviews, tests, writes findings with condition, criteria, cause, effect and recommendation, and tracks remediation.
One lesson on this page teach it as a primary outcome.
Turns technical uncertainty into a one-page decision: material risks, trends, exceptions, remediation, and what the board is being asked to accept.
One lesson on this page teach it as a primary outcome.
Reads bills and rules like a practitioner, compares options with costs and unintended effects, and writes briefs a decision-maker can act on.
One lesson on this page teach it as a primary outcome.
Roles that hire for it
Each role page shows the full competency set, what the seat decides, and a readiness check against your own evidence.
- Chief Audit Executive, AI audit editionneeds it at depth
- AI Auditorneeds it at depth · 9 open postings this week
- Chief AI Officerneeds it at depth
- Chief Risk Officer, AI risk editionneeds it at depth
- VP of AI Governance and Ethicsneeds it at depth
- Chief Compliance Officer, AI compliance editionneeds it at depth
How job descriptions say it
Postings rarely use the textbook word. These are the phrases the careers map reads as asking for the competencies above.
Where the frameworks place it: Global Internal Audit Standards; ISO/IEC 42001 Clause 9.2; ISO 19011.
One interview question about it
How does an AI audit differ from an AI risk assessment, and what would make you refuse to sign an assurance opinion?
Asked of candidates for ai audit and independent assurance. Answering it in your own words is exactly how a GAGE topic is passed, and the credential records the pass where an employer can check it.
If you come from another field
Some backgrounds already carry this competency, and the readiness check gives credit for it.
- Internal audit and IT audit carries it as work you can show: Audit programs, workpapers and findings are your record.
- Nonprofit program and grants oversight carries it as a claim to back up: Board and funder reporting is the cadence a governance committee needs.
- A business, MBA or technology management degree carries it as work you can show: Executive briefs and presentations are your assignments.
Terms it appears with
Not an alphabetical neighbourhood: these are the terms taught in the same lessons, ranked by how often they appear together.