Responding well to misbehaving technology

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For centuries all we could be sure of was Death and Taxes. But in 1946 we starting using high-speed electronic digital Computers and added something to that shortlist.

The computer bug, the grim reaper and the tax collector form a formidable trio. But of these, its misbehaving technology that drives us furthest up the wall.

Our work is not immune. Things are always going to go wrong in business. Doubly so for those operations that rely heavily on technology.

One skill is critical to survival in this modern, technological world. It’s the ability to respond well to the inevitable problems our hardware and software present.

Responding well is of course not really one skill. It’s more of a bouquet. We need to be both Sherlock Holmes and Bob The Builder.

We need to dig until we figure out the root causes and understand things from first principle. We must be problem solvers and invest in continuous improvement. We must leave things better than we find them.

Historians note that early computers were impossible to use except by very patient geniuses whereas modern ones can be used by just about anyone. I disagree! Patience and the right attitude is still critical.

When asked whether we can fix it our answer must be emphatic and elementary: “Yes we can!“