Ethicality · Certification Methodology · AM-01
Scoping & Certification Planning
Procedure for delineating in-scope AI systems, mapping stakeholders, and setting the certification plan.
1. Purpose
This procedure establishes how Ethicality assessors delineate the boundary of an engagement, identify affected stakeholders, and confirm an certification plan with the applicant before evidence collection begins.
2. In-scope determination
Assessors enumerate every production and pre-production AI system operated, distributed, or materially relied upon by the applicant. Systems are classified by risk tier under the AIMSS taxonomy. Out-of-scope exclusions must be documented with a written justification countersigned by the applicant's accountable executive.
3. Stakeholder mapping
Assessors identify (a) data subjects and affected communities; (b) downstream deployers and users; (c) workforce groups whose labour is implicated, including contracted data workers; (d) regulators with jurisdiction. Mapping outputs feed AM-04 interview sampling.
4. Certification plan
A written plan specifies scope statement, sampling strategy, on-site dates, remote evidence cadence, interview slate, technical reproduction targets (AM-03), and the surveillance schedule (AM-07). The plan is shared with the applicant at least 10 business days before fieldwork.
5. Change control
Any in-flight scope change requires a re-issued plan and is logged in the public determination file.
Methodology suite v1.0 · controlled copy for certification use.