Thanks. It is the "satisfying other parts of the org" part I'm struggling with, but it's helpful to see the reasoning laid out as you do in your first paragraph

Thanks. It is the "satisfying other parts of the org" part I'm struggling with, but it's helpful to see the reasoning laid out as you do in your first paragraph. I guess the essential problem I'm trying to solve is how to respond when the MD or a product owner comes to me and says "The client wants our core algorithms to be adapted in XYZ novel ways. When can you deliver this?".