Open FDE PlaybookComing February 2027

Forward deployed engineering, done as an investment

An open playbook and free tools for running forward deployed engineering as an investment: engineers in the field, measured on outcomes, not hours. One edition for platform companies, one for consulting firms.

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A chart of cumulative value over 48 months. It dips below zero to a low of about minus $491K at month 12, crosses break-even at month 23, and rises above $2M by month 48. The go/no-go scorecard's deal breakers: staff augmentation at a discount, no path to production, a client who won't commit engineers, and a sales concession. Part of the KPI tree: leading indicators such as time to production, client ownership and sponsor engagement, feeding lagging indicators such as follow-on conversion rate. Measures against target for a fictional team: time to production 11.5 weeks against a 12-week target, client ownership and other leading measures with trend lines, and lagging measures such as follow-on conversion, each marked on target, close, or off target.
The investment dips before it pays back. Example numbers.Deal breakers first, then a weighted score.What to watch while you wait for the payoff.A fictional team, six quarters in.

What's coming

Four tools and the written playbook. Free to use, copy and change.

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