Independent technical judgment means knowing when a bigger solution is not the better solution.
A vendor proposed a secondary call-recording solution at roughly $2 million to eliminate a nonredundant point in the environment. The proposal sounded technically attractive, but the decision could not be made on redundancy alone.
What is the actual risk? How often is it likely to matter? What operational event is the redundancy intended to address? What is the business value of the investment?
The recommendation was not to purchase the additional solution because the cost did not make sense relative to the expected operational benefit. The decision was based on business value and risk rather than vendor pressure or the appeal of more technology.
That business-first thinking also influenced Avaya platform lifecycle decisions. During a move from an older CM 8-era environment toward 10.2, Ian evaluated vendor upgrade incentives and licensing options alongside the long-term maintenance economics. The upgrade was considered not merely as a technical refresh, but as an opportunity to improve the overall operating position.
Technology cannot drive the business. The business drives the technology.