---
catalog: "Free Training Catalog"
training_id: "018"
title: "Vendor & Tooling Decisions Through the Continuity Lens"
subtitle: "Avoiding lock-in by accident"
track: "Operating Model & Leadership"
estimated_time: "20–30 minutes"
audience:
  - Executives
  - IT / Security
  - Procurement
  - Product
learning_outcomes:
  - Evaluate vendors for reversibility and memory safety
  - Avoid continuity debt in tooling choices
  - Preserve exit narratives
prerequisites: "Training 001–017 recommended"
level: "Leadership / Applied"
license: "Free / Open Training"
version: "1.0"
last_updated: "2025-12-18"
---

# Vendor & Tooling Decisions Through the Continuity Lens
## Avoiding lock-in by accident

## Core stance
Lock-in is rarely intentional.
It is the result of missing continuity questions.

## Continuity questions for vendors
- Why are we choosing this?
- What assumptions does it encode?
- How would we leave?
- What memory would we lose?

## Red flags
- No export path
- Knowledge trapped in vendor workflows
- Irreversible configuration decisions

## Exercises
- Write an exit story for one vendor
- Identify one tool with hidden memory lock-in
- Add a reversibility note to procurement

## Suggested next step
Require an exit narrative for high-impact tools.