Technology · Build, buy or subscribe · Component
Lock-in and exit assessment
What leaving would require — data, integrations, retraining and time — assessed before the commitment is made.
The deliverable
What it is
Lock-in is not in itself a problem; every choice of technology creates some. It becomes one when it was not noticed at the time, and the organisation discovers the cost of leaving only when it needs to leave.
The assessment is technical and practical. The contractual terms that govern exit — notice periods, data return clauses, termination assistance — belong with Partners under the agreement; this records what the move itself would involve.
One level in
What it is made of
Each element is a constituent part of the component. Follow one to see the attributes it carries.
Data portability
Whether the organisation’s data can be extracted in full, in a usable format, without the provider’s cooperation.
3 attributes: Export format · Trial extraction · Extraction time
LearnSwitching effort
The integrations, configurations and working habits that would have to be rebuilt elsewhere, estimated in time and money.
4 attributes: Integrations affected · Estimated switching cost · Estimated switching time · Confidence
Learn
Run a trial export before signing. An export that has never been loaded elsewhere is a promise, not a capability.
The other components in build, buy or subscribe
Capability evolution map
The capabilities under consideration placed by how evolved and how differentiating each is, which frames what is worth building.
LearnSourcing decision record
The options considered, the whole cost of each over time, the choice made, and the conditions under which it should be revisited.
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