Latest posts
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The New Technical Debt: Unmaintainable or Misused AI Models
Technical debt used to be easy to spot. You could walk into a development team and see it in the codebase, the lack of tests, or the patchwork of quick fixes that no one wanted to touch. It had a smell to it. You knew that every release took longer, and every new feature came…
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AI Risk in Due Diligence: Data, Ethics, and the Black Box Problem
Iincreasingly, we start a Technical Due Diligence to be told that the target company’s edge lies in its “AI-driven technology”. This is almost always said with confidence and with a slide or two showing impressive-looking performance metrics. But the moment we begin to examine that claim in detail, the tone changes. The conversation becomes more…
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The AI Mirage: Spotting Overstated Claims During Tech Due Diligence
Artificial intelligence is today’s talisman. It appears in every pitch deck, investor briefing and product brochure, promising a transformation that will outpace competitors and create outsized returns. Yet in the course of Technical Due Diligence, claims of being “AI-powered” often dissolve under scrutiny, revealing little more than experimentation or, in some cases, nothing beyond the…
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What Does AI Readiness Look Like in Technical Due Diligence?
In the current climate of digital transformation, few technologies command as much attention as Artificial Intelligence. Whether it is enhancing operational efficiency, enabling new forms of automation, or underpinning entire product offerings, AI is no longer optional for innovative companies. As such, investors and acquirers are increasingly scrutinising a company’s AI maturity during technical due…
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The CPTO’s Role in Shaping Responsible AI Adoption
The surge in artificial intelligence has triggered a wave of excitement, anxiety and introspection across industries. Boardrooms are awash with talk of automation, productivity gains and existential risks, while product and technology teams wrestle with a shifting foundation beneath their roadmaps. Amid this transformation, the role of the Chief Product and Technology Officer has never…
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The Platform Dilemma: When small services businesses outgrow their own systems
After more than three decades advising and leading technology and product teams across sectors from Telecoms to Healthcare, I’ve seen a familiar story unfold time and again—particularly in smaller services-based businesses. It starts with a team building their own bespoke system, perhaps as a natural extension of their service model or out of necessity. What…
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Who Said My Business Was Immature?
Sometimes businesses are surprised, shocked or outraged if they score low in terms of business maturity. This might be a misunderstanding of what business maturity means, and what it might mean for them. Every great company starts with a simple idea — a spark of insight that ignites the entrepreneurial spirit. However, an idea alone…
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A good plan for the future can make or break your Technical Due Diligence
When private equity firms evaluate a company for investment, understanding the company’s future plans is a vital part of the Technical Due Diligence (TDD) process. Investors are not just interested in the present state of the company but regard both the future plans, and the structure that surrounds them, as critical parts of the investment…
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What does a TDD look for in your Team?
The technical team is the backbone of any tech-driven company, responsible for developing, maintaining, and innovating the company’s products and services. Even where a company does not sell a technical product of their own, but uses technology to manage its day-to-day business, the team plays a critical role to ensure business operations run smoothly. When…
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Just what is Technical Debt?
Technical debt refers to the additional work and future costs that arise when a company opts for a quick, easy solution now instead of a more efficient and long-term approach. It’s like taking a shortcut that saves time initially but requires more effort to fix later. Technical debt can accumulate in various forms, such as…