Example · fictional company · Software company · Ireland · 45 staff
Harbourline Software
Adding an AI assistant to its product and AI tools to its own development, with a small support team and one person who sells to enterprise clients.
The company and its numbers are made up, to show what goes in and what comes out. Dates are set as if it were filled in this quarter.
What they entered
Everything the form asked, step by step. About ten minutes of answers, with no names of staff.
Step 1: Your company
Ireland · 45 staff · Software
Step 2: Your plan
- Launch a new product or service: AI assistant in our product · working by Q3 2027
- Start using AI in our work: AI coding tools · working by Q1 2027
Step 3: Your teams
Team Closest occupation People 55 or older Know-how held by one person Hard to find Needed in 1 / 3 years Developers Software developers (2512) 20 1 No Yes 22 / 26 Customer support Information and communications technology user support technicians (3512) 8 0 No No same / same Enterprise sales Information and communications technology sales professionals (2434) 3 not asked Yes Yes same / same Finance and operations General office clerks (4110) 6 1 No Don't know same / same Step 4: What the plan needs from each team
Team AI assistant in our product AI coding tools Developers Can't happen without Can't happen without Customer support Needed — Enterprise sales Needed — Finance and operations — — Step 5–6: New skills, and who can already do them
Skill For Team People Needed by Can already Partly Building AI into the product AI assistant in our product Developers 5 Q3 2027 1 2 Using AI coding tools safely AI coding tools Developers 20 Q1 2027 8 10 Checking and correcting the assistant's answers AI assistant in our product Customer support 8 Q3 2027 0 3 Step 7: Stress test and assumptions
The plan arrives a year early. All assumptions left at their defaults.
What they got
Example · Harbourline Software · Ireland · 45 staff · calculated Q4 2026
Your plan needs 5 actions to start this quarter, 1 of them already late.
- Launch a new product or service: AI assistant in our product · Q3 2027
- Start using AI in our work: AI coding tools · Q1 2027
How sure: 2 sure, 6 fairly sure, 6 unsure. Each action says which of its numbers are assumptions you can change.
What must start when
Everything that has to start within the next twelve months.
Show the roadmap as a table
| Action | Needed | Takes | Start by | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Using AI coding tools safely: train 2 new to it | Q1 2027 | 2 quarters | Q3 2026 | late by 1 quarter; borrow help Q1 2027 to Q2 2027 |
| Hire 4 for Developers | Q4 2027 | 4 quarters | Q4 2026 | start this quarter |
| Pass on the know-how only one person in Enterprise sales has | now | 2 quarters | Q4 2026 | start this quarter |
| Building AI into the product: train 2 new to it | Q3 2027 | 3 quarters | Q4 2026 | start this quarter |
| Using AI coding tools safely: train 10 who can partly do it | Q1 2027 | 1 quarter | Q4 2026 | start this quarter |
| Hire 1 for Customer support | Q4 2027 | 3 quarters | Q1 2027 | start by Q1 2027 |
| Building AI into the product: train 2 who can partly do it | Q3 2027 | 2 quarters | Q1 2027 | start by Q1 2027 |
| Checking and correcting the assistant's answers: train 5 new to it | Q3 2027 | 2 quarters | Q1 2027 | start by Q1 2027 |
| Checking and correcting the assistant's answers: train 3 who can partly do it | Q3 2027 | 1 quarter | Q2 2027 | start by Q2 2027 |
Each action, and how we worked it out
- late by 1 quarter; borrow help Q1 2027 to Q2 2027
Using AI coding tools safely: train 2 new to it
Developers · Train · unsure
Needed Q1 2027 − 2 quarters to train = start Q3 2026: late by 1, borrow help until Q2 2027
How we worked this out
- People who need it
- 20
- Your answer
- Can already do it
- 8
- Your answer
- Can partly do it
- 10
- Your answer
- Needed by
- Q1 2027
- Your answer
- Time to train someone new to it
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Skillnet Ireland, subsidised training through your sector or regional network; the business pays a share. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start this quarter
Hire 4 for Developers
Developers · Hire · unsure
Needed Q4 2027 − 4 quarters to hire and get up to speed = start Q4 2026
How we worked this out
- People in the team today
- 20
- Your answer
- Needed in a year
- 22
- Your answer
- Leaving each year
- 1.6 (8% a year)
- Assumption
- Retiring each year
- 0.1 (1 aged 55+ over 11 years)
- Assumption
- Expected in a year
- 18.3 people
- Assumption
- Time to hire
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
- Time for a new hire to become productive
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Extra hiring time where people are hard to find
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Hard to hire for
- yes
- Your answer
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Intreo employer services and EURES, public employment service help with recruiting, including from other EU countries. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start this quarter
Pass on the know-how only one person in Enterprise sales has
Enterprise sales · Pass on know-how · fairly sure
Needed as soon as possible: start now, 2 quarters of overlap
How we worked this out
- Know-how held by one person
- yes
- Your answer
- Overlap needed to pass on know-how
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: fairly sure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Skillnet Ireland, subsidised training through your sector or regional network; the business pays a share. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start this quarter
Building AI into the product: train 2 new to it
Developers · Train · fairly sure
Needed Q3 2027 − 3 quarters to train = start Q4 2026
How we worked this out
- People who need it
- 5
- Your answer
- Can already do it
- 1
- Your answer
- Can partly do it
- 2
- Your answer
- Needed by
- Q3 2027
- Your answer
- Time to train someone new to it
- 3 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: fairly sure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Skillnet Ireland, subsidised training through your sector or regional network; the business pays a share. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start this quarter
Using AI coding tools safely: train 10 who can partly do it
Developers · Train · fairly sure
Needed Q1 2027 − 1 quarter to train = start Q4 2026
How we worked this out
- People who need it
- 20
- Your answer
- Can already do it
- 8
- Your answer
- Can partly do it
- 10
- Your answer
- Needed by
- Q1 2027
- Your answer
- Time to train someone who can partly do it
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: fairly sure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Skillnet Ireland, subsidised training through your sector or regional network; the business pays a share. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start by Q1 2027
Hire 1 for Customer support
Customer support · Hire · unsure
Needed Q4 2027 − 3 quarters to hire and get up to speed = start Q1 2027
How we worked this out
- People in the team today
- 8
- Your answer
- Needed in a year
- 8 (about the same as today)
- Assumption
- Leaving each year
- 0.6 (8% a year)
- Assumption
- Retiring each year
- 0.0 (0 aged 55+ over 11 years)
- Assumption
- Expected in a year
- 7.4 people
- Assumption
- Time to hire
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
- Time for a new hire to become productive
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Intreo employer services and EURES, public employment service help with recruiting, including from other EU countries. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start by Q1 2027
Building AI into the product: train 2 who can partly do it
Developers · Train · fairly sure
Needed Q3 2027 − 2 quarters to train = start Q1 2027
How we worked this out
- People who need it
- 5
- Your answer
- Can already do it
- 1
- Your answer
- Can partly do it
- 2
- Your answer
- Needed by
- Q3 2027
- Your answer
- Time to train someone who can partly do it
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: fairly sure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Skillnet Ireland, subsidised training through your sector or regional network; the business pays a share. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start by Q1 2027
Checking and correcting the assistant's answers: train 5 new to it
Customer support · Train · fairly sure
Needed Q3 2027 − 2 quarters to train = start Q1 2027
How we worked this out
- People who need it
- 8
- Your answer
- Can already do it
- 0
- Your answer
- Can partly do it
- 3
- Your answer
- Needed by
- Q3 2027
- Your answer
- Time to train someone new to it
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: fairly sure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Skillnet Ireland, subsidised training through your sector or regional network; the business pays a share. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start by Q2 2027
Checking and correcting the assistant's answers: train 3 who can partly do it
Customer support · Train · fairly sure
Needed Q3 2027 − 1 quarter to train = start Q2 2027
How we worked this out
- People who need it
- 8
- Your answer
- Can already do it
- 0
- Your answer
- Can partly do it
- 3
- Your answer
- Needed by
- Q3 2027
- Your answer
- Time to train someone who can partly do it
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: fairly sure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Skillnet Ireland, subsidised training through your sector or regional network; the business pays a share. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
Later: 3 actions starting in a year or more
- start by Q4 2028
Hire 7 more for Developers by year three
Developers · Hire · unsure
Needed Q4 2029 − 4 quarters to hire and get up to speed = start Q4 2028
How we worked this out
- People in the team today
- 20
- Your answer
- Needed in three years
- 26
- Your answer
- Leaving each year
- 1.6 (8% a year)
- Assumption
- Retiring each year
- 0.1 (1 aged 55+ over 11 years)
- Assumption
- Expected in three years
- 14.9 people
- Assumption
- Time to hire
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
- Time for a new hire to become productive
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Extra hiring time where people are hard to find
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Hard to hire for
- yes
- Your answer
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Intreo employer services and EURES, public employment service help with recruiting, including from other EU countries. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start by Q4 2028
Hire 1 more for Enterprise sales by year three
Enterprise sales · Hire · unsure
Needed Q4 2029 − 4 quarters to hire and get up to speed = start Q4 2028
How we worked this out
- People in the team today
- 3
- Your answer
- Needed in three years
- 3 (about the same as today)
- Assumption
- Leaving each year
- 0.2 (8% a year)
- Assumption
- Expected in three years
- 2.3 people
- Assumption
- Time to hire
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
- Time for a new hire to become productive
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Extra hiring time where people are hard to find
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Hard to hire for
- yes
- Your answer
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Intreo employer services and EURES, public employment service help with recruiting, including from other EU countries. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start by Q1 2029
Hire 1 more for Customer support by year three
Customer support · Hire · unsure
Needed Q4 2029 − 3 quarters to hire and get up to speed = start Q1 2029
How we worked this out
- People in the team today
- 8
- Your answer
- Needed in three years
- 8 (about the same as today)
- Assumption
- Leaving each year
- 0.6 (8% a year)
- Assumption
- Retiring each year
- 0.0 (0 aged 55+ over 11 years)
- Assumption
- Expected in three years
- 6.1 people
- Assumption
- Time to hire
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
- Time for a new hire to become productive
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Intreo employer services and EURES, public employment service help with recruiting, including from other EU countries. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
Already in place
- Using AI coding tools safely: 8 people in Developers can already do this. Use them first.
- Building AI into the product: 1 person in Developers can already do this. Use them first.
Stress test: the plan arrives a year early
- Building AI into the product: train 2 who can partly do it: late by 2 quarters instead of starting by Q1 2027.
- Building AI into the product: train 2 new to it: late by 3 quarters instead of starting now.
- Using AI coding tools safely: train 10 who can partly do it: late by 1 quarter instead of starting now.
- Using AI coding tools safely: train 2 new to it: late by 2 quarters instead of 1.
- Checking and correcting the assistant's answers: train 3 who can partly do it: late by 1 quarter instead of starting by Q2 2027.
- Checking and correcting the assistant's answers: train 5 new to it: late by 2 quarters instead of starting by Q1 2027.
Your teams
Developers
CriticalISCO-08 2512 · Software developers
- Your plan can't happen without this team (AI assistant in our product, AI coding tools).
- You said people for this team are hard to find.
Where new equipment or AI frees up time in this team, use it first to hire fewer people later, then to retrain. This roadmap never suggests cutting jobs.
Customer support
ImportantISCO-08 3512 · Information and communications technology user support technicians
- Your plan needed this team (AI assistant in our product).
Enterprise sales
CriticalISCO-08 2434 · Information and communications technology sales professionals
- Your plan needed this team (AI assistant in our product).
- Only one person knows how to do something critical here.
- You said people for this team are hard to find.
Considered, no actions: Finance and operations (not needed for this plan).
Assumptions used
| Assumption | Value | Where from |
|---|---|---|
| People leaving each year, other than retirementAssumption, not data. Use your own figure if you know it. | 8 | Assumption |
| Usual retirement ageState pension age 66. | 66 | Assumption |
| Time to train someone who can partly do itAssumption. Time until they can do the work to the standard needed, not course length. | 2 | Assumption |
| Time to train someone new to itAssumption. Time until they can do the work to the standard needed. | 3 | Assumption |
| Time to hireAssumption. From deciding to hire to the person starting. | 2 | Assumption |
| Time for a new hire to become productiveAssumption. | 1 | Assumption |
| Extra hiring time where people are hard to findAssumption, applied where you said a team is hard to hire for. | 1 | Assumption |
| Overlap needed to pass on know-howAssumption. | 2 | Assumption |
Who could help you plan this
- MentorsWork (Skillnet Ireland). A free 12-week programme with specialist mentors, including on HR management, run with the Small Firms Association. Details
From our research, September 2026. Schemes change: confirm with the scheme before you rely on it.