- Trygve Aasheim
Tech leaders need to balance innovation and practicality, and choose technologies that are reliable, scalable, and cost-effective.
Navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape is a delicate dance, especially for technology leaders and decision makers. The lure of the latest technologies is undeniable, but it's crucial to maintain a balance between embracing innovation and ensuring long-term scalability. As Thomas Friedman insightfully penned in “Thanks for Being Late” back in 2016, we're entering an era with “more technology available than society can absorb.” That rocket is still climbing towards eternity - and encapsulates the challenge faced by tech leaders: choosing wisely amidst a stream of never ending options.
Consider the trajectory of Uber; in its quest for global dominance, Uber's rapid ascent wasn't without its hiccups. The platform that had initially served them well began to falter under the weight of its colossal user base. This led to a pivotal moment where they had to pause and reinvent their foundational tech structure to keep pace with their expansive growth. It took months. Quarters. Created losses. Made room for competitors to catch up. It's a stark reminder that foresight in tech decisions is invaluable.
Now Uber did have its success anyway, so we could say it was worth it. But it wasn’t planned, and could have ended very differently.
So, how can tech leaders traverse this complex landscape effectively?
Here's my cheat sheet:
- Visionary Pragmatism: It's essential to be forward-thinking, not just in terms of immediate needs but to anticipate growth and scale. But also where you won't.
- Opt for Reliability: While it's tempting to adopt the newest tech, proven technologies with strong support ecosystems often bring stability and reduce unforeseen challenges.
- Holistic Cost Analysis: Beyond the initial investment, consider the broader implications like employee training, maintenance, and adaptability. Investments in tech are usually measured in a business case, but some costs must be evaluated...
- Seamless Transition: Any tech adoption or shift should prioritise a smooth experience for both internal teams and end-users. This often gravitates towards the slightly boring choices, because it's easier to move consumers to something that resembles what they have or simplifies it.
- Skillset Availability: Gauge the market. Adopting tech that lacks a robust pool of professionals can lead to potential roadblocks down the line. And if they are many, look at their price tag...to cater for number 3.
- Build vs Buy vs Partner: This is where the discussions gets personal. But you can't throw all your problems at engineers to solve. And your company can't solve everything. Build what makes you different, buy what just makes you a player in your field, partner what you shouldn't need to be good at.
Netflix's transformation provides a constructive lesson. Their pivot as a company to a streaming giant required a tech infrastructure that wasn't just functional but also scalable. They championed a system that allowed for agility and growth, proving that with the right tech choices, innovation and scalability aren't mutually exclusive. And even if Uber had to redo their core platform, their partner model is a text book example of how that part should be executed.
The tasks and discussion of tech leaders today is both thrilling and daunting. While the hypesurrounding cutting-edge technologies is tempting, it's imperative to weigh them against the backdrop of practicality, scalability, and long-term vision. It's not merely about adopting what's new, but discerning what's sustainable and synergistic to the organisation's goals.
This then becomes the compass guiding organisations through the intricate maze of technological possibilities…with a higher success rate.