There's no wizard at Oz and there’s no magic in computers

Dorothy and her friends were looking for a mysterious solution but found no wizard at Oz. Working together they learned that they already had all the power they needed. Sometimes people look for that same magic in computer solutions. However, there is no more magic in computers than there was at Oz. My goal for this post is to reduce the fear and anxiety often associated with mysterious elements. 

You are the master of your business and the visionary. At some point you may decide you want to wave that magic wand. You need to corral some data, streamline a process or pull some actionable reporting out of that top hat. Don’t be afraid to take that leap, BUT don’t jump with a blindfold on.

Here are a few initial golden rules to consider.

1. You are the business expert–define your goals in the context of your business, not what you think can or can not be achieved by the computer.
2. You are not the computer expert–bring in someone to help you craft a plan. Ideally, bring in someone who is not selling a product. Otherwise, you’re likely to become convinced that a product will “magically” become a solution. This is rarely the case–there is going to be some work involved. Hire someone you trust.
3. Don’t try to eat the whole elephant in one bite. You, along with your consultant, should break the goal into small projects that will bring value. Then build on each success…

Abracadabra! And good Luck!

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