The Right Tools

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but not me. Not yet. I am always curious to understand how things work. Not too long ago, almost any appliance in the house was fair game in my pursuit of understanding inner workings. Radios, VCRs, vacuum cleaners, etc . Yes, this involved taking the devices apart, looking inside and how the parts fit and then putting it back together. The question of whether it would work after was not a question at all. It just had to. However, when taking things apart, having the right tools made all the difference.

In Jim Collin's Good to Great, the Chapter on "Technology Accelerators" made me remember how having the right tools, makes a difference. In this case, for the right reasons. I know many of us are more than ready to jump on the next gizmo and/or gadget that looks cool & technologically advanced to brag about. Who stops to think whether or not it will would really enhances us - as an individual. Who cares. It looks cool.

Needs to be a phone too...  

From viewpoint of a corporation, "cool" doesn't cut it. The technology must accomplish a task that propels them forward providing more momentum already established. That is, according to the book, if you've made it this far: the company already has all the momentum from having all the level 5 leaders with the "right people on the bus" confronting the brutal facts with the hedgehog concept all figured out along with the discipline to follow it. Deep breath.

What was interesting of the chapter is that it puts technology in its place. That is, companies that are great will use it as a tool - not the defining factor. However, does that apply to companies whose business is being on-top of the latest technology? :-P
Furthermore, the chapter elaborates on "how companies react" to technology says a lot about them. Either they fear it or embrace it depending on how they adhere to their hedgehog concept (if they even have one).

I can't wait to read the next chapter: The "Flywheel and Doom Loop". I like the title because I have the funny feeling most companies operate in the "doom loop".  In my humble opinion, it's the path of least resistance. It's flying by the seat of our pants. No time to structure things since you're always putting out fires. I suppose in some cases it justifies our existence in the "daily grind".