Just a Tool

It happens to everyone who uses computers – technology doesn’t always work as expected. Computers crash, files get lost, internet connections drop. As a technology solutions company, software and computers are at the heart of what we do, and how we deliver to our customers. But it’s vital to remember: it’s just a tool.

• Computers do not help us write better.
• Computers do not help us speak to our customers effectively.
• Computers are not required to create project schedules.
• Computers are not a replacement for logical thinking.
• Computers do not help us design as well as paper and pen sketches.

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is “how can you code software without a computer?” Valid point. Technically, we could write code on paper, but it wouldn’t compile, and certainly would be of no value since it can’t be consumed as a product. But coding is not the first thing we do – a lot of thought and planning needs to go into a project before you code. We try to be as agile as possible, but every project needs a plan, approach, and outline. This is where the computer goes away, and our skills and thought are at work.

If you ask around our office, many of our technical staff prefer to use the whiteboard to anything else. The whiteboard is the perfect balance between lowering barriers between thought and written organization. It also has the benefit of being visible to a small group in the room. Even initial project plans are done easier on the whiteboard, then translated to a tool for easier management and organization. Leaving tools like Visio, Project, and Photoshop behind initially almost always produces better results in the end. It’s how we think about “what” instead of “how”.

When projects get hard or complex, take a step back and focus on core skills with low-tech methods instead of reaching for the computer. You’ll find yourself thinking critically more, and the results will reflect it.