BUSINESS DECISION FRAMEWORK

## DECISIONE CONTEXT
DECISION STATEMENT: [formulazione precisa della decisione da prendere]
DECISION MAKER: [chi ha authority finale]
STAKEHOLDER MAP: [chi è impattato + livello influenza]
DEADLINE: [quando serve decision + consequence di delay]
REVERSIBILITY: [quanto è reversibile questa decisione]

## DECISION CRITERIA
BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:
- Obiettivo primario: [financial/strategic/operational]
- Success metrics: [KPI specifici e misurabili]
- Time horizon: [short/medium/long term impact]
- Risk tolerance: [conservative/balanced/aggressive]

EVALUATION DIMENSIONS:
1. FINANCIAL IMPACT (weight: X%)
   - Revenue impact
   - Cost implications  
   - ROI e payback period
   - Cash flow considerations

2. STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT (weight: X%)
   - Fit con business strategy
   - Competitive positioning
   - Market opportunity size
   - Long-term sustainability

3. OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY (weight: X%)
   - Resource requirements
   - Capability gaps
   - Implementation complexity
   - Timeline realistico

4. RISK ASSESSMENT (weight: X%)
   - Probability di success
   - Downside scenarios
   - Mitigation strategies
   - Exit strategy options

## ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK
OPTION GENERATION:
- Genera 3-5 alternative realistiche
- Include "status quo" come baseline
- Consider hybrid approaches
- Evaluate "do nothing" risks

OPTION EVALUATION:
Per ogni opzione, analizza:
- Quantitative assessment (dove possibile)
- Qualitative factors assessment
- Scenario analysis (best/worst/most likely)
- Sensitivity analysis per key assumptions

RECOMMENDATION SYNTHESIS:
- Weighted scoring per criteria
- Risk-adjusted expected value
- Implementation roadmap
- Success/failure leading indicators
- Decision point reviews pianificate

## OUTPUT REQUIREMENTS
- Clear recommendation con rationale
- Implementation plan con milestones
- Risk mitigation strategies
- Success metrics e monitoring plan
- Communication strategy per stakeholders

Analizza sistematicamente ogni opzione, poi fornisci recommendation data-driven.

BUSINESS DECISION ANALYSIS: AI STARTUP ACQUISITION

## DECISION CONTEXT CLARIFICATION
**DECISION STATEMENT:** Acquire StartupX (20 employees, ML/AI focus) for €3M to accelerate our AI capabilities vs internal development vs partnership alternatives.

**CRITICAL INFO NEEDED:**
- Current ML capabilities in-house vs startup's unique IP
- Timeline pressure: quando ci servono AI capabilities?
- Integration complexity: culture fit e technical stack alignment?
- Competition: altri interessati all'acquisition?

## OPTION GENERATION & ANALYSIS

### OPTION A: ACQUIRE STARTUP (€3M)
**FINANCIAL IMPACT:**
- Upfront cost: €3M + integration costs (~€500K)
- Ongoing costs: Team retention (~€2.5M/year)
- Avoided R&D: ~€1.5M internal development saved
- Revenue acceleration: Estimated +€5M ARR potential in 18 months

**STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT:**
- PRO: Immediate AI capabilities, proven team, market credibility
- CONTRO: Distraction from core business, cultural integration risks
- MARKET TIMING: AI competitive pressure increasing rapidly

**OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY:**
- INTEGRATION: 6-9 months per full integration
- RETENTION RISK: Key talent may leave (startup → corporate)
- CAPABILITY GAP: Still need AI infrastructure e data pipelines

**RISK ASSESSMENT:**
- PROBABILITY SUCCESS: 70% (based on team quality e IP value)
- DOWNSIDE: €3.5M sunk cost, talent flight, distraction
- MITIGATION: Earn-out structure, retention bonuses, clear integration plan

### OPTION B: INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT (€1.5M)
**FINANCIAL IMPACT:**
- Development cost: €1.5M over 12 months
- Hiring costs: €200K recruitment + €2M/year team costs
- TIME COST: 18-24 months vs 6 months acquisition

**STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT:**
- PRO: Full control, aligned culture, proprietary development
- CONTRO: Slow time-to-market, hiring challenges, learning curve

**RISK ASSESSMENT:**
- PROBABILITY SUCCESS: 50% (hiring talent difficulty, market timing)
- DOWNSIDE: Competitive disadvantage, longer payback period

### OPTION C: PARTNERSHIP/LICENSING (€500K-1M)
**FINANCIAL IMPACT:**
- Lower upfront investment
- Revenue sharing ongoing
- Faster implementation

**STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT:**
- PRO: Low risk, faster time-to-market
- CONTRO: Less control, dependency, limited differentiation

## DECISION RECOMMENDATION

**WEIGHTED SCORING ANALYSIS:**
- Financial Impact (30%): A=8, B=6, C=7
- Strategic Fit (25%): A=9, B=7, C=5  
- Feasibility (25%): A=7, B=5, C=9
- Risk Level (20%): A=6, B=4, C=8

**TOTAL SCORES:** A=7.4, B=5.5, C=7.2

**RECOMMENDATION: OPTION A - ACQUIRE (with conditions)**

**RATIONALE:**
- Highest strategic value e fastest time-to-market
- AI competitive window chiudendo rapidamente
- Talent acquisition più difficile oggi che 12 mesi fa
- €3M reasonable per proven team e IP

**CRITICAL SUCCESS CONDITIONS:**
1. **DUE DILIGENCE VALIDATION:**
   - IP audit + freedom to operate analysis
   - Team retention commitment (18+ months)
   - Technology stack compatibility assessment
   - Customer/revenue validation

2. **STRUCTURED DEAL TERMS:**
   - €2M upfront + €1M earn-out over 18 months
   - Key employee retention bonuses
   - Clear milestone e integration success metrics
   - Exit clauses se integration fails

3. **INTEGRATION PLAN:**
   - Dedicated integration manager
   - 100-day integration roadmap
   - Cultural integration workshops
   - Clear reporting structure e autonomy balance

**SUCCESS METRICS (18-month horizon):**
- Team retention: >80% key employees
- Revenue impact: +€3M ARR attributed to AI features
- Integration completion: Full technical e operational integration
- Customer adoption: >40% customers using AI features

**DECISION REVIEW POINTS:**
- Month 3: Integration progress e team retention assessment
- Month 6: Early revenue impact measurement
- Month 12: Full ROI e strategic value evaluation

**COMMUNICATION STRATEGY:**
- Internal: AI acceleration strategic rationale
- External: Expanded AI capabilities announcement
- Team: Integration support e career development focus