5. “How do we keep a fast prototype useful six months later?”

Suggested guest: Hugh Seaton and the buyer's systems owner.

Why it matters: An application can deteriorate when templates, model versions, price sources and integrations change. Buyers need a supportable process rather than dependence on one enthusiastic developer.

Good answer should cover: Named ownership, release testing, retained holdout cases, incident handling, support during bid deadlines and a documented fallback. Distinguish maintenance that is genuinely necessary from a preventable dependency.

Follow-up: “Who notices when an output becomes wrong but the application still runs?”

Evidence to request: Release log, regression test example, support runbook and export demonstration. The SMACNA AI discussion establishes the interview context; the specific controls are this desk's proposed agenda.

Expert quote: Awaiting interview and publication approval.