This Week I Learned -- Software ≠ No Effort
This week I decided to kick things off with what in Silicon Valley circles would be considered a controversial statement. The vast majority of software FAILS to actually empower its users.
The great promise of modern software is empowerment - the idea that sophisticated tools provide advanced capabilities into the hands of everyone, enabling people to achieve remarkable things. And to a degree, that promise has been fulfilled. Powerful software is now more accessible than ever, with tools for app development, data analysis, and creative work just a few clicks away and little to no cost. The sophistication of tools today relative to 30 years ago is truly remarkable, but sophistication and accessibility do not always equate to empowerment.
Don’t get me wrong, I am an absolute tech optimist, but for the vast majority of users, today's software proves to be a false promise. Behind friendly interfaces and slick marketing lurk complex, opaque systems that require significant time and effort to truly master. The reality is that unlocking the full potential of modern tools remains a daunting challenge, demanding a substantial investment in learning and continual upskilling to keep pace with the relentless march of updates and new releases. Moreover, the gravitational pull of familiar, if less capable, tools is powerful, luring users back to the comfort of the status quo. As a result, the playing field of technological empowerment remains tilted, with the benefits accruing disproportionately to those with the resources and determination to stay on the cutting edge.
At EBH, we’ve implemented an incredibly powerful, modern BI tool called Omni. While still an early stage startup, the team is moving at warp speed to continue to build out features and capabilities within the product which we absolutely love. The product is incredibly powerful and the ability to analyze your data and create insights far surpasses anything else we’ve ever used. And yet, there is a gap between what’s possible and my actual ability to harness that power. To be clear, that’s not the fault of Omni. Of all the tools we evaluated it was by far the most user friendly but there is still a learning curve. An analysis that takes me multiple hours to run, takes an Omni analyst minutes. The friction comes from time required to ramp the learning curve and avoid falling back to the familiar. It’s easy for me to fall back to just using Excel which itself requires a significant learning curve to leverage its full potential, but I’ve already sunk thousands of hours into understanding this product. I’m nowhere close to that with Omni and yet spending the upfront time and effort would save me significant time I would otherwise spend in Excel.
So what's the solution? How can we close the gap between the promise of software empowerment and the reality of its often-unrealized potential? There are steps that individuals, organizations, and software makers can take:
For individuals, embracing a growth mindset is key. We must recognize that mastering powerful tools is an ongoing journey, not a one-time event. Seeking out learning resources, dedicating time to skill development, and being willing to push through the discomfort of the unfamiliar are all essential.
Organizations have a critical role to play in fostering a culture of learning and providing the resources necessary for skill development. This means investing in training, giving employees the time and space to learn new tools, and celebrating the acquisition of new skills.
And for software makers, there is a need to prioritize not just powerful features, but also usability and learnability. This could involve anything from more intuitive interface design to better onboarding experiences to more accessible and comprehensive learning resources.
Ultimately, closing the accessibility-empowerment gap will require a concerted effort from all stakeholders. But the potential rewards are immense - a world where the power of technology is truly in the hands of everyone, enabling people to achieve remarkable things. It's a vision worth striving for, even if the path is not always easy. By recognizing the challenges, committing to ongoing learning and growth, and working together to make software more truly empowering, we can turn the promise of technological democratization into a reality.