| Buyer evidence | First action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Expert judgement is unavailable | Recruit, develop or retain accountable expertise | Software does not assume professional responsibility |
| Skilled team repeatedly rekeys stable data | Test automation alongside the team | The task has a reviewable boundary |
| Work is seasonal or irregular | Compare temporary capacity and process changes | Fixed application costs may not fit demand |
| Growth spans multiple project types | Strengthen estimating leadership and standards | A narrow model may not generalise |
| A departure exposed undocumented assumptions | Capture knowledge and standardise first | Automating incomplete rules can scale inconsistency |
| Both backlog and repetitive work are demonstrated | Run a combined capacity plan | Hiring and automation need not be alternatives |
Make the comparison explicit: employment cost, supervision, ramp-up, recruitment effort, implementation cost, maintenance, review time and resilient coverage. No generic salary range can settle this decision.
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