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Slide 25: Technology Lifecycle Cycles

UNDERSTANDING THE CONTINUOUS TECHNOLOGY CYCLES:

This slide is about transition signals, not stage definitions.

INNOVATION CYCLE (Bleeding Edge → Leading Edge → Mainstream):

  • Entry signal: production pilots begin succeeding repeatedly.
  • Advancement signal: standards, tooling, and talent availability improve.
  • Exit signal: differentiation gains flatten and technologies stabilize.

LEGACY CYCLE (Trending Behind → End of Support → End of Life):

  • Entry signal: vendor/community momentum declines and hiring becomes harder.
  • Escalation signal: security/compliance burden increases faster than value.
  • Critical signal: support deadlines become externally fixed (vendor/regulator).

DECISION RULE:

  • Start new builds in Leading Edge/Mainstream when possible.
  • Treat Trending Behind as modernization territory, not growth territory.
  • Treat End of Support as a migration program, not a maintenance task.
Speaker notes
  • "Use this as an early-warning slide: watch the transition signals, not just the labels."
  • "The key question is not 'what stage is this today?' but 'which direction is it moving?'"
  • "Good lifecycle management means moving before deadlines force you to move."

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