How Deep Technical Expertise in Source Code Analysis Can Propel Your Career as a Tech Expert Witness
September 18, 2025Why Rarity Over Quantity in Tech Due Diligence Signals M&A Success: A Consultant’s Deep Dive
September 18, 2025
Introduction: The CTO’s Dilemma – Quality vs. Rarity in Tech
As a CTO, my role is to make sure technology drives our business forward. Let’s talk about a challenge I face often: balancing rare, cutting-edge tech against reliable, high-quality solutions.
Think of it like collecting coins. Do you go for that one rare piece, even if it’s a bit worn? Or do you focus on common coins in perfect condition? In tech leadership, we face similar trade-offs every day—shaping our strategy, budget, and team.
The CTO’s Investment Framework
1. Defining ‘Rarity’ in Technology
In our field, rarity means:
- Specialized skills, like blockchain cryptography experts
- Unique algorithms or patents
- Early entry into new markets
2. Defining ‘Quality’ in Technology
Quality stands for:
- Code that scales and is easy to maintain
- Trusted, stable tools
- Systems built for high performance
Strategic Considerations
Budget Allocation: Where to Place Your Bets
Just like choosing between one rare coin or several great common ones, we ask:
“Should we bet big on one innovative but unproven tech, or spread funds across trusted solutions?”
Here’s a real example. We once had to decide: invest heavily in an experimental AI platform or roll out five reliable SaaS tools. We went with the AI—but only after thorough checks confirmed its potential. It’s like picking a rare coin you truly believe in.
Team Building: Hiring for Rarity or Quality?
The same logic applies to talent:
- Rarity: A top machine learning expert—hard to find and costly
- Quality: A team of five skilled full-stack developers
Our solution? We built a “rarity scorecard”:
Rarity Score = (Strategic Importance × Scarcity) / (Onboarding Complexity × Cost)
Technology Roadmapping
The Portfolio Approach
We borrow from collectors: balance is everything.
- 70% in proven, quality tech (your go-to, reliable tools)
- 20% in promising new tech (worth a careful look)
- 10% in high-risk, high-reward bets (could pay off big)
When to Hold and When to Fold
Key moments to decide:
- Keep legacy systems or upgrade to modern ones?
- How to handle technical debt
- When to retire old technologies
Actionable Takeaways for Technology Leaders
- Build a clear “rarity vs. quality” framework for tech choices
- Balance your portfolio—avoid extremes
- For rare tech, insist on strong strategic fit
- For quality tech, focus on scalability and ease of maintenance
- Revisit your decisions as the market evolves
Conclusion: The Art of Technical Valuation
Seasoned coin collectors know when rarity matters most, and when condition does. As CTOs, we develop that same instinct over time.
The best approach? A balanced mix. Use these ideas in your tech planning, spending, and hiring. You’ll build an organization that innovates and performs reliably.
Here’s my take: whether it’s coins or code, the most valuable collections come from blending vision with careful choices.
Related Resources
You might also find these related articles helpful:
- How Deep Technical Expertise in Source Code Analysis Can Propel Your Career as a Tech Expert Witness – When software ends up in court, lawyers need expert witnesses to make sense of it all. If you have deep technical skills…
- How to Write a Technical Book on Niche Topics: My Proven Process from Concept to Published Author with O’Reilly – Writing a Technical Book is a Powerful Way to Establish Authority Writing a technical book is one of the best ways to sh…
- How I Turned My Passion for Coin Collecting into a $50K Online Course on Teachable and Udemy – My Journey: From Coin Enthusiast to Course Creator Ever thought about turning what you love into income? I did—and it ch…
