First Process Then Tools
You have heard this before. A coworker comes to you and tells you about WidgetWidgy 2.0, the latest version of this tool that lets you do pink widgets and cool doodads. You take a look at the tool and agree that it does look promising. Should you go ahead and buy it and start using it right away? Or is it better to ask a techie to look into it and see if it is viable? Maybe you and your team are too busy and you decide there is no time to dedicate to any more tools at this point?
This situation happens too often. After all, there are hundreds of new tools and updated versions that probably hold the secret to improve productivity or give you a competitive advantage. How to tackle this?
Most of today’s new applications are created with the same goal in mind: To automate a process. Making easier the daily activities that we encounter. The problem arises when somebody that does not work with you creates a tool that automates the process in the way that they think is correct, but that may or may not fit your needs.
The proposed solution to this challenge is to make sure that you focus on the process first. Make sure that you have analyzed the steps that you take to complete the task and document its workflow. Then, and only then, look for tools that fit your process. Only then you will know for sure whether the tool you need to acquire is the WidgetWidgy 2.0, or if the right one is ClicketyClik 4.2, or if you actually need a tool at all.
Remember, there is no point in automating the wrong process.
(Image by MShades)
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