As asked
A team is drowning in manual work. They ask you whether to build a custom tool, buy software, or just fix the existing process. How do you reason it through?
Sample answer outline
Clarify the real problem and its scale first, since often a process fix beats any new tool. Compare options on total cost, time to value, fit, maintenance burden, and strategic importance: buy when the need is common and non-differentiating, build when it is core and unique, improve the process when the pain is workflow rather than capability. A strong answer frames it as a decision under uncertainty and recommends the smallest change that resolves the actual bottleneck.
Expect these follow-ups
- When is building a custom tool genuinely justified over buying?
- How do you factor in ongoing maintenance of a custom build?
- What would make you recommend doing nothing for now?
build-vs-buydecision-makingprocessstrategy