evaluating-new-technology
Framework for evaluating emerging technologies using insights from 22 product leaders.
- Start by clarifying the problem being solved, then assess technology maturity and stability for your specific use case
- Adopt a "build and buy" mindset: purchase tools for standard 90% functionality, build custom solutions for your unique 10%
- Prioritize mental bandwidth and core competencies over cost savings; constantly re-test assumptions about what new tools can actually do
- Design for modularity and abstraction layers to avoid vendor lock-in as the technology landscape shifts
- Be skeptical of AI security vendor claims; use tools yourself on real problems to understand their true strengths and limitations
Evaluating New Technology
Help the user evaluate emerging technologies using frameworks from 22 product leaders who have made critical technology decisions at companies from Google to Shopify.
How to Help
When the user asks for help evaluating technology:
- Start with the problem - Clarify what problem they're solving before discussing tools
- Assess maturity - Determine if the technology is stable enough for their use case
- Consider build and buy - Help them find the right mix rather than forcing a binary choice
- Plan for change - Design for modularity since the landscape will shift
Core Principles
Tools solve problems, not the reverse
Austin Hay: "I have this adage I always say, which is tools are just meant to solve problems. And the problem set for marketing technologists and business technologists is you focus on the tools." Always define the problem and the people involved before selecting a system or tool.
Build AND buy, not build vs buy
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