Simon Wardley’s Value Chain Mapping method has mostly colonized my brain for build vs. buy decisions. The advice in this article doesn’t much address the most important consideration: whether a thing is known or unknown, to-be-invented or a commodity. If you’re familiar with Wardley’s maps, a decision tends to be pretty easy. Build stuff for the upper-left corner, buy stuff for the lower-right. Avoid the lower-left and upper-right corners entirely.
Sounds a bit too optimistic. While admitting that there should be reevaluation, the list of recommended criteria doesn’t include estimating the cost of migration away from the solution. A pessimist would also evaluate the risk of a forced migration, for example when a product suddenly stops being available. And there is not only the question of the product you choose supporting the future change you need; there is also a question whether a product is likely to force changes onto you due to its own evolution.
Simon Wardley’s Value Chain Mapping method has mostly colonized my brain for build vs. buy decisions. The advice in this article doesn’t much address the most important consideration: whether a thing is known or unknown, to-be-invented or a commodity. If you’re familiar with Wardley’s maps, a decision tends to be pretty easy. Build stuff for the upper-left corner, buy stuff for the lower-right. Avoid the lower-left and upper-right corners entirely.
Sounds a bit too optimistic. While admitting that there should be reevaluation, the list of recommended criteria doesn’t include estimating the cost of migration away from the solution. A pessimist would also evaluate the risk of a forced migration, for example when a product suddenly stops being available. And there is not only the question of the product you choose supporting the future change you need; there is also a question whether a product is likely to force changes onto you due to its own evolution.