Bad Things Happen When Technology Gets Ahead of Strategy
Never forget that ideas drive the world, not technology. While we get caught up in the latest mobile devices, software, social media applications and more, we often jump in before we’ve really thought it through. It’s been said that a significant reason there were so many casualties during the Civil War is because technology was way ahead of strategy. As they would develop new guns, ammunition, or explosives, in their haste to get them in the field, they just used them indiscriminately. In many cases, it killed incredible numbers of the very army using that technology.
So what am I saying? New technology is wonderful, but think it through. You can do far more damage to your own cause by firing your guns at random, than taking the time to work out a strategy.
What’s the best use of this tool?
How can we maximize the investment?
What’s our desired result, and how do we know when we achieve it?
Be creative. Be spontaneous. Try new things. But never forget that tools are wonderful, but ideas change the world.
Couldn’t agree more. Getting people to sit down and create a strategy is the fist hurdle. Following through with the strategy is the second. Great post.
Abolutely right! People get dazzled by technology, thinking (rightly) it can do anything – but the key is in getting the right technology to serve your strategy, not the other way round. Get the strategy right, then apply the technology – almost a soft issue these days…
For a minute there, I thought you were writing an article on FCP X.
Totally agree with you, Phil. As we use technology to enhance our worship and church experience, I keep telling my media team at church two things: 1) technology is the means, not the goal and 2) keep it simple.