Friday, January 30, 2009

What have we done?

Back in the "heyday" of Information Technology, I.T. was seen as the Golden Grail of business. Projects were funded without hesitation, a good salary was a given, and grand songs were composed for the "computer guy" hero.

It's apparent that things have changed. Today, I.T. is looked at as a necessary evil, costs (including salaries) are being cut, singing has turned into mourning, whining, and threats of throwing equipment out the window. What happened?

For starters, it was a bit easier back then. We were replacing typewriters with word processors, sticky pads with email, and pencil smudged paper with self calculating electronic coolness. We were increasing productivity and profit exponentially, and everyone was happy. Then… it (I.T.)happened.

We dug ourselves into a technological black hole. We've got to understand that the same technology that made people sing our praises eventually proved to be our undoing. Let's face it; we computer guys love technology. In fact, we've become so immersed in zeros and ones that we have developed our own culture. We talk geek speak, shop, play, and even romance online. We live in a virtual world where we can use cheat codes and God mode, and rule! We have grown out of touch with people and made them our arch nemesis - the "user."

We are not entirely to blame. The "don't make me think" attitude of the end user has become the symmetrical antithesis of our "computer guy" culture. People, who use technology on a daily basis but refuse to understand it, will even boast about being "computer illiterate" or "technologically challenged." – and this attitude sets us off. We retreat into our bat-caves, log-into the Matrix, and devise a new plan to take over the world! Muahhahahah!!!

Somehow we've got to bridge the virtual gap. I believe that, in order to bring the worlds of "user" and "computer guy" together, we’ve got to cross sides. We must get into their world, stick our feet into their shoes, and truly understand their needs, wants, and desires. We must find an emotional link to synchronize our cultures. Only then can we find ways to empower people, replace typewriters, sticky pads, and smudge laden paper, and once again become the hero of the day. Only this time let’s remember that spoiling the user with new gadgets, and impressing them with what they don’t know isn’t going to create lasting relationships – but working with them - along side them - will.