Buy vs Build isn't an IT decision.

Buy vs Build isn’t an IT decision. It’s a strategic tradeoff.

Too many leaders reduce it to a feature checklist. But features become obsolete - strategy lasts.

The real questions: • Control → Who owns the roadmap: you or the vendor? • Cost → Is it a predictable investment, or a variable bill that can spiral? • Risk → What happens when the vendor pivots, folds, or locks you in?

Frame Buy vs Build as IT, and you optimize for today’s features. Frame it as a strategy, and you optimize for long-term outcomes.

Short-term wins often create long-term debt. And strategic debt compounds - regardless of how “cheap” your choice looked on paper.

How do you approach Buy vs Build for critical business tech?