The 171% average ROI on enterprise agentic-AI deployments is the mean of a bimodal distribution — roughly 12% of deployments clear 300%+ and 88% sit at or below break-even. The single factor distinguishing the clusters is not a multi-pattern framework; it is whether business-line (not IT) ownership held the kill-switch and accountability before the deployment shipped.

Correction log

1. 19 Apr 2026Body rewritten from WP-era slop (7-patterns vendor framework with fabricated case studies). New thesis: bimodal distribution, not normal — the 171% average describes no specific deployment. Business-line kill-switch ownership is the single distinguishing factor. Cross-links to AM-020 + AM-021 on the shared organisational-precondition thread.
2. 28 Apr 2026Article retracted 28 Apr 2026. Slug carries '171% ROI' as a category average and a '7 proven patterns' framework that the body had to disown — the rewritten body explicitly argues 171% is the mean of a bimodal distribution, not a benchmark. Body rewritten 19 Apr 2026 (preserved in archived/) but the slug contradicts the rewritten thesis and Google has rejected the URL. URL now redirects to /retractions/?retired=the-agentic-ai-success-formula-7-proven-patterns-driving-171-roi-in-enterprise-deployments. Claim withdrawn — status moves to Not holding, no further reviews scheduled.