Technology to the Rescue
Technology can easily captivate us as we try to solve our business problems. In the world of technical communication and field service, there have been significant technical innovations to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
XML has made content reuse and repurposing available to organizations of all sizes. (You can use the same ‘chunk’ of information in multiple instances, and output it in multiple formats – PDF, web, etc.). Mobile devices allow field techs to quickly access the information that was once found in large books and parts catalogs. The Internet of Things (IoT) promises to make predictive maintenance a reality.
Beyond Technology
Good project management always includes a thorough postmortem of the project. What went well? What could have been done better? Lessons learned? A frequent refrain is not that the technology was ‘good’ or ‘bad’ but rather how organizations managed the human side of the process. Organizations competing in today’s rapidly changing technological markets are faced with the challenges of “dualism.” They must operate efficiently in the present while innovating effectively for the future.
Managers and leaders within these organizations have to focus on current market success and profitability. They must also introduce the next generation of technical advances, product attributes, or service features to sustain and even augment their continuing global competitiveness.
Managing It All
You may want to read “The Human Side of Managing Technological Innovation: A Collection of Readings” by Ralph Katz (MIT). The book provides a collection of articles that increase the sensitivity and understanding of individuals who are managing or influencing innovation and change processes within organizations. It also offers practicing managers and staff professionals new resources. It include ideas, tools, and insights for problem-solving, organizing, and functioning more effectively.
