What’s the problem you’re actually trying to solve?

I’ve had multiple conversations in my career, where I’m asked for help to use a given tool or technology, usually with a tight deadline. The more I probe on the details, the more vague the specifics become, and it becomes clear that the person is fixated on their vision of the solution, rather than the most appropriate one.

The most important thing you can do at this point is pause that conversation, get all the relevant people together, and ask ‘What’s the problem you’re actually trying to solve?’

This situation is a regular occurrence in automation and digital transformation projects, as the process being targeted is so old, brittle or sacred, that nobody dares considering if the existing solution actually solves the current problem.

 “If I had asked my customers what they wanted they would have said a faster horse” is often misattributed to Henry Ford, but the point is valid – people can only work with what they know.

Bringing in an outsider, who can take a broader view of the problem and suggest more appropriate solutions, is usually a smarter move than trying to solve problems outside your domain yourself.

I specialise in helping medium and large enterprises to solve exactly these problems. I work with to understand the actual problem and ensure that the right objectives are in place before starting a digitisation, transformation, or automation project. DM me to discuss how I might be able to help your company solve these problems.