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How do you decide between build, buy, or partner during solution exploration?

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4 Answers
Product Development Process
  1. Shahid Hussain
    Shahid Hussain

    Google Group Product Manager, Android • 3mo

    If first mover advantage matters, bias toward buy/partner — but only if the org and product integration is realistic, and the cost math works. (Side note — partnerships cost too. It might be opportunity cost, it might be something you’re trading, like sales distribution, to get access to margin or a product integration. But it could also be an opportunity to see up close whether an acquisition could make sense.) If there is a big first mover advantage here, that tips towards buy or partner, assu ...Read More

    747 Views
  2. Ruchi Aggarwal
    Ruchi Aggarwal

    Former BILL Director, Product Management - Payments • 7mo

    I look at build/buy/partner based on where we are, what outcome we need, and speed to market. Usually one option is easy to eliminate upfront. Then I compare the remaining two on customer experience, cost, risk, and how much we’ve validated. If we know the space well and want full control, we build. If we need speed or expertise, we buy. If we’re entering a new area with high uncertainty, we partner until we learn enough to decide our long-term path.

    532 Views
  3. Becky Trevino
    Becky Trevino

    Flexera Chief Product Officer | Formerly Rackspace, Dell • 7mo

    Deciding between build, buy, and partner is a regular conversation at Flexera. Here is how we work it through: Build: Capabilities that are core to our business and that we have an expertise in and we have found no one in market that is doing this work better than we are today Buy: Capabilities that we believe are necessary for us to win or retain customers but would take too long for us to build and there is a potential partner in the market that is already doing this better than us Partner: Ca ...Read More

    1,101 Views
  4. Farheen Noorie
    Farheen Noorie

    Superhuman Head of Product, Enterprise • 7mo

    It depends! I bet you are tired of hearing that but it actually does. Here are a few things to consider How quickly do you need to go to market? Build Does the team have expertise in this area or can it be learned quickly? Is hiring an option? What would the team need to invest in ongoing maintenance? What is the opportunity code? eg: what does the team not work on if they prioritize this build? Is this a core differentiator for your product? If yes it would give you a stronger competitive advan ...Read More

    397 Views

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