A first technical hire is often asked for a strategy before the team has a shared view of where it stands. This document gives that view in order: the company's stage, the stack in layers, a build or buy decision, the hiring plan and steering group, and the cash and debt limits that make the plan affordable.

The sample follows Willowmere Software, a fictional company with 52 engineers planning to reach 60. It recommends a hybrid approach scored at 17 out of 20, shows a three-year cash statement and keeps debt under 10% of receipts. Replace the goals, stack, scores, names and figures with your own.