Why every department has a stake in Responsible AI implementation

This is a guest blogpost by Michelle Dawkins, vice -president for solution consulting, UKI & EMEA at Workday.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the enterprise landscape, and the rise of agentic AI marks a significant turning point in how organisations operate. As digital transformation accelerates, AI agents are being tasked with everything from workflow automation to decision support and strategic recommendations. Yet, while the promise is great, the reality is that trust in AI remains a critical challenge.

According to Workday research, just 39% of employees globally feel confident in their ability to work effectively alongside AI, and only 42% believe their organisation is investing enough in upskilling to prepare them for an AI-enabled future. For business leaders across the UK and EMEA, these figures highlight an urgent need for a holistic approach to AI adoption, one that prioritises trust, transparency, and collaboration across the entire organisation.

In my experience advising organisations on their digital journeys, true success with AI stems from collective ownership. While the strategic direction often begins in the C-suite, and the CIO plays a pivotal role in orchestrating technology adoption, every department has a crucial part to play in ensuring agentic AI is implemented responsibly and effectively.

Collective responsibility: Governance for agentic AI

A central question organisations face is: when AI agents are granted increasing autonomy, how do we ensure they operate within boundaries of trust, compliance, and ethics? The answer lies in robust governance frameworks that are not the sole remit of IT or the CIO but instead require cross-functional collaboration.

Agentic AI governance must be a shared enterprise. The CIO sets the strategy and ensures technical integrity, but business teams, HR, legal, compliance, and operational departments must all help define and uphold the parameters within which AI operates. Together, these teams can create mechanisms for monitoring, auditing, and intervening when necessary, ensuring that AI supports, rather than supersedes, human expertise and organisational values.

Transparent communication is essential at every level. Employees need to understand not just how agentic AI works, but how it benefits their daily roles. Proactive education and open dialogue help to dispel misconceptions, build trust, and foster a sense of empowerment, rather than fear of replacement.

Embedding ethics and explainability across departments

Ethical AI cannot be the responsibility of a single team. While the CIO and their technology teams establish the foundations, every department must contribute to making AI decisions transparent and understandable. For example, HR can ensure AI is used fairly in recruitment and performance management, compliance teams can oversee adherence to regulations, and business units can relay feedback from users to refine AI systems.

Regular reviews and cross-departmental audits help detect and address potential biases or unintended consequences. Organisations might consider setting up AI ethics boards with representation from across the business, publishing clear guidelines on AI use, and investing in regular training to maintain high ethical standards.

Prioritising explainability and transparency is not just about compliance or reputation, it’s fundamental to business success. When employees and customers trust AI, engagement, productivity, and innovation all thrive.

Fostering a culture of learning and adaptation

For agentic AI to deliver its full value, organisations must nurture a culture where learning, adaptation, and feedback are everyone’s responsibility. Upskilling shouldn’t be limited to technical teams; every department should have access to resources that build AI literacy and digital confidence, encouraging curiosity and experimentation at all levels.

Feedback loops, whether from frontline staff, middle managers, or executive leaders, are essential for continually refining AI systems and ensuring they remain aligned with organisational needs and values.

A shared journey towards responsible innovation

Agentic AI brings enormous opportunity, but also significant responsibility. As organisations grant more autonomy to digital agents, it’s vital that the values, trust, and culture underpinning sustainable innovation are upheld by everyone, from the C-suite to every department and every employee.

By working together to set guardrails, champion transparency, and keep people at the heart of every AI initiative, organisations can harness agentic AI confidently, responsibly, and to the benefit of all.

We are at a crossroads where the future of AI in the enterprise will be defined by shared responsibility, ethical collaboration, and a collective commitment to trust. Success depends not just on leadership from the top, but on every department and individual working together to shape and steward AI’s role across the organisation.