Suggestions, help or service?

As 2019 wraps up, I think about the service that effective Design technology provides.

In the definition of service you will find words like “help”, “supplying a public need”, “maintenance or repair work”.

The most effective service happens when you get close enough to a specific need to understand it. We all, from time to time, like to make suggestions from afar but it is very difficult to actually serve from afar. You have to understand what the need is from up close before you can effectively serve. This means showing up with a willingness to listen, ask questions and discover the need for yourself before offering solutions.

It is as true for technology as it is for people. Technology solutions suggested from afar to solve a need that does not exist (or avoids a need that does exist) will consume resources and end up with limited success.

Do you make suggestions, help or serve?

Suggestions look like this:

Make things easier. Do more with less.

We need to understand our data better.

We need automation.

Service looks like this: Lets figure out what tasks we can make easier? Where can we gain efficiency while spending the least amount of resources? What are the most regularly asked questions that we can visualize? What repetitive tasks can we automate and then what do we do with the time savings?

Service is specific. Good Design Technology is targeted and implemented with an open mind to what could be.

Yes, you can show up prepared to help. Helpers are always welcome. Especially when the work is defined and ready to get done.

But if you really want to have an impact beyond your two helping hands, show up in person, ask questions with a beginner’s mind (shoshin) and serve!