You're pledging to donate if the project hits its minimum goal and gets approved. If not, your funds will be returned.
In early 2026, software markets experienced a sharp repricing event often described as "SaaSpocalypse." Most commentary frames this as straightforward AI product replacement. My research argues the main mechanism is capital and budget reallocation from the software application layer to the AI infrastructure layer, with follow-on consequences for workforce design and executive governance.
This project will convert existing research into public, reproducible tools leaders can use: open evidence packs, practical scoring frameworks, and implementation guidance.
Published works:
Budget Before Disruption (Publication): https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18751149
From PowerPoint Decks to Pull Requests (Working paper): https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18763107
When Capital Reallocates, Leadership Follow (Publication): https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18778926
Goals:
1. 1. Build an open evidence base for AI-era budget reallocation analysis.
2. 2. Publish a workforce transition diagnostic that others can apply.
3. 3. Publish a governance transition diagnostic (PELT) with clear scoring rules.
4. 4. Produce practical implementation guidance for boards and operators.
Execution plan:
5. 1. Source mapping and protocol publication.
6. 2. Data cleaning and reproducibility packaging.
7. 3. Framework formalization and external reviewer calibration.
8. 4. Public release of diagnostics and final integrated report.
Milestones:
9. 1. Week 3: protocol + source map.
10. 2. Week 8: open evidence pack v1 + market-layer revision.
11. 3. Week 14: workforce diagnostic pack.
12. 4. Week 22: governance (PELT) diagnostic pack.
13. 5. Week 36: integrated final report + implementation toolkit.
If minimum funding is reached ($35,000):
· Research assistant support (part-time): $12,000
· Data/tooling/API access: $4,000
· Interviews/transcription: $3,000
· External methods review: $5,000
· Editing/design/publication: $4,000
· Legal/admin/compliance overhead: $5,000
· Contingency: $2,000
If full funding goal is reached ($120,000):
· PI research time buyout: $48,000
· Research assistant support (expanded): $30,000
· Data/tooling/compute: $12,000
· Interviews/transcription: $8,000
· Independent validation/methods audit: $8,000
· Editing/design/publication/distribution: $7,000
· Legal/admin/compliance overhead: $5,000
· Contingency: $2,000
Minimum vs full scope:
· Minimum funding delivers one complete public output package and core diagnostics.
· Full funding delivers full 9-12 month program execution across market, workforce, and governance outputs.
Warren Johnson (PI/author): leads research design, synthesis, and publication.Additional support funded through this grant: part-time research assistant + external methods reviewer.
Track record:
Completed and published three related papers across market, workforce, and governance layers.
Built and iterated practical frameworks already in draft use (workforce and leadership diagnostics).
Prior experience shipping AI/product/infrastructure work in enterprise settings.
Evidence in one layer is weaker or less generalizable than expected.
Diagnostic frameworks are too complex for external users.
Scope across three layers creates execution drag.
Likely outcomes and mitigations:
Publish null/mixed findings with explicit limits and revised bounds.
Run simplification pass with external reviewers and republish rubric.
Stage-gate scope: prioritize market evidence pack plus one diagnostic if schedule risk increases.
· Grant funding raised for this research program in the last 12 months: $0.
· This request is for philanthropic/public-benefit research outputs and is separate from any private startup financing discussions.