---
id: "question-low-regulation-adaptation"
type: "open-question"
source_timestamps: ["§ How the Portfolio Runs"]
source_url: "https://hbr.org/2026/01/manage-your-ai-investments-like-a-portfolio"
source_title: "Manage Your AI Investments Like a Portfolio"
tags: ["agility", "regulation", "process-tailoring"]
related: ["entity-northeast-us-electric-utility", "concept-stage-gates"]
resolutionPath: "The authors note that a 'lighter version' of the rigorous utility company process is appropriate for industries with lower regulatory burdens, but they do not specify exactly which gates or reviews should be relaxed. Resolving this requires developing a tiered governance framework based on industry risk profiles."
sources: ["spine"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-spine"
originDay: 1
articleStem: "hbr-foci-61-ai-investments-portfolio"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/01/manage-your-ai-investments-like-a-portfolio"
sourceTitle: "Manage Your AI Investments Like a Portfolio"
---
# Adapting Stage Gates for Low-Regulation Industries

> **Open question:** How should stage gates be adapted for low-regulation industries?

The authors note that a 'lighter version' of the rigorous [[entity-northeast-us-electric-utility]] process is appropriate for industries with lower regulatory burdens, but they do not specify exactly which gates or reviews should be relaxed.

**Resolution path:** Develop a tiered governance framework based on industry risk profiles. Adjacent work — EU AI Act–style use-case risk classification and tiered/federated governance models — offers a starting structure for scaling gate rigor to risk. Relates to [[concept-stage-gates]].