Companies, founding and succession
Ship of Theseus Where is the continuity of a company rooted once its members, customers, and purpose have changed?
What this series asks
- How are ownership, control, and livelihood divided among people?
- If the purpose changes to survive, does the purpose of the business change too?
- Which contract terms cannot be withdrawn?
The questions
1 · 2026 · Decision window: 20 days until the reply to the acquisition offerAn acquisition that preserves jobs changes the company's purposeAll 13 judgments agree
2 · 2026 · Decision window: 13 days until the reply on the supply contractIf 75% of revenue depends on one customerAll 13 judgments agree
3 · 2026 · Decision window: 9 days before the CEO's long-term leaveWho signs during the founder's sick leaveSplit 10:1
4 · 2026 · Decision window: 17 days until the investment terms are confirmedMoney to grow the company, authority to decide itAll 13 judgments agree
5 · 2026 · Decision window: 6 days until the reply on a key employee's moveKeeping one person shrinks everyone else's raiseSplit 10:1
6 · 2026 · Decision window: 22 days until the next quarter's budgetA deficit on the books, the region's only repair shopAll 13 judgments agree
7 · 2026 · Decision window: 14 days until the next releaseA core tool that competitors will use if it is publishedSplit 10:1
8 · 2026 · Decision window: 3 days until the reply on the additional orderEight extra weeks of work in exchange for 30% of salesSplit 10:1
9 · 2026 · Decision window: 24 days until the next investment negotiationDoes a founder's share remain after they leave the work?All 13 judgments agree
10 · 2026 · Decision window: 45 days until the succession draftA company that is the family's asset and the employees' workplaceAll 13 judgments agree
11 · 2026 · Decision window: 18 days until the new revenue model launchesAbolish the fee, and get more data?All 13 judgments agree
12 · 2026 · Decision window: 7 days until the launch notice is confirmedRecovery unfinished, cash for three monthsAll 13 judgments agree
13 · 2026 · Decision window: 10 days until the reply on customer refundsRefunding everyone leaves next month's payroll shortAll 13 judgments agree
14 · 2026 · Decision window: 28 days until the annual supply contractA 20% cheaper quote, working conditions not yet knownSplit 10:1
15 · 2026 · Decision window: 35 days until the new organization agreementA company that listens, a company that shares decisionsAll 13 judgments agree
16 · 2026 · Decision window: 20 days until the reply on the franchise offerTen franchise locations, two people to train themAll 13 judgments agree
17 · 2026 · Decision window: 30 days until the next production budgetIf overseas production funds are received, who must wait?All 13 judgments agree
18 · 2026 · Decision window: 14 days until the long-term leaseA five-year lease against a cancellable orderSplit 10:1
19 · 2026 · Decision window: 21 days until the profit dispositionThe reward promise that returns with the first profitSplit 9:2
20 · 2026 · Decision window: 5 days until the large contract is signedSales promises that outran the productSplit 10:1
21 · 2026 · Decision window: 28 days until the new fee takes effectThe platform that brings orders, the fee that cuts profitAll 13 judgments agree
22 · 2026 · Decision window: 30 days until the shutdown noticeEven when the product ends, the customer's work remainsSplit 8:3
23 · 2026 · Decision window: 23 days until the licensing proposalTo grow an invention, must you give up exclusive rights?All 13 judgments agree
24 · 2026 · Decision window: 17 days until the next payroll commitmentFour months left: one more attempt?All 13 judgments agree
In depth25 · 2026 · Decision window: 28 days until new member approvalShould the same name mean the same quality?Split 5:4:2
26 · 2026 · Decision window: 35 days until the next peak-season hiringA four-month peak, eight people's whole yearAll 13 judgments agree
27 · 2026 · Decision window: 9 days until the reply on the large contractTwo years prepaid, a discount for one customer onlyAll 13 judgments agree
28 · 2026 · Decision window: 48 hours until the customer briefingDoes explaining a company's error also require a name?All 13 judgments agree
29 · 2026 · Decision window: 60 days until the new operating standard is introducedDoes the same service need the same procedure?All 13 judgments agree
30 · 2026 · Decision window: 40 days until the next product launchA product built by the team, a founder's nameAll 13 judgments agree
31 · 2026 · Decision window: 25 days until the notice of service fee increaseDoes a lifetime promise include future features too?Split 7:4
32 · 2026 · Decision window: 18 days until the joint contract is submittedWhen the joint order form shows new product schedulesAll 13 judgments agree
33 · 2026 · Decision window: 11 days until the start of pre-ordersThe product is unfinished, the pre-order is a promiseSplit 9:2
34 · 2026 · Decision window: 16 days until the new work agreement is signedAn employee's side business overlaps with the company's business planAll 13 judgments agree
35 · 2026 · Decision window: 32 days until the reply on the buyout offerA sale to fund retirement, a shop name that disappearsSplit 10:1
36 · 2026 · Decision window: 22 days until the half-year performance is finalizedChanging the growth metric changes the promised rewardsAll 13 judgments agree