October 17, 2004
cultural & technological alignment
Earlier I wrote:
My current pet Egofriction gripe: the inability for “culturalists” and “technologists” to work together more closely.
Further Explanation:
In any organisation, when a new technological implementation is put in (SAP, Peoplesoft etc), it affects the culture.
When a new piece of culture is implemented (new company vision, ad campaign, whatever), the technology is affected.
If your product is made by high-tech Germans PhDs or Belgian Trappist Monks, the technology will largely depend on the shared values of the people involved.
And if you install a process where only people who have PhDs can understand it, again, that affects the values and culture.
Cultural alignment with the technology. Technological alignment with the culture. That is the ideal goal, but it's rarely achieved, especially in times of great change.
Anyway, I have an idea which will make new technology implementations less culturally disruptive to companies. And allow cultures to make better use of their technology.
Yeah. Working on it. You?
Might need backers. Might not. Need allies, of course.
Feel free to e-mail: hugh at gapingvoid etc.
Posted by hugh macleod at October 17, 2004 1:20 AM | TrackBackDear Hugh,
Your compassion makes me cry. We need love like yours right now.
keep at it brother.
Posted by: Simon at October 28, 2004 5:49 PMI'm not sure that I completely see where you are going with this, but it sounds intruiging. I too have seen the downside of sudden technology change (primarily in small business) and it can really mess up ROI projections, as well as other faddish concepts salespeople use to sell their new techno-toys.
Posted by: Stephen at November 24, 2004 11:24 AM