Library Web Chic

There is a phenomenal post over at Creating Passionate Users about how organizations stop great ideas from being implemented, why this is bad and how good organizations can avoid this trap. One of the best things about the post is that it includes some terrific graphics that illustrate its point. At my new job, we are going through the process of creating strategic directions and for better or worse, I am on the Strategic Directions Steering Committee. One thing I’ve discovered in going through this process is that it is difficult to talk about Strategic Directions without talking about organizational culture, and change management. When I saw this article I decided that it was a must read for the rest of the committee because from my point of view I work in a very risk aversion oriented organization.

For me this is a major change from where I worked before. I took huge risks some paid off, some didn’t but the organization and I rolled with it. In my new job while I’ve been encouraged to take risks at my new job, the undertone of “but make sure you don’t mess up” is always there. Its weird for me to be in this situation, I am constantly fidgetting against it. At my old job, the library wasn’t viewed very well on campus and I think that there was a sense that it was okay to take risks because well, it couldn’t hurt. Here the Libraries have a great reputation on campus and there is a powerful fear that an action might damage that reputation in some way. As a result, mentality of status quo and “don’t rock the boat too much please” reigns.

For me and my department this translates into pressure that the product being perfect. So much pressure that the product never sees the light of day. In my mind this mentality goes against the perpetual beta culture that exists in the rest of the technology world. The bottom line being, that there is no perfect product. You put something out there and you work every day to make it better. Philosophically the author of “Death by Risk Aversion” and I agree. She really nails it for me when says writes that

One of the benefits of having a scary illness or major loss is that it reminds you of just how much time is ticking away, and that you always have options to make changes. If you have a great idea, what do you risk by not persuing it? Will you have more regrets if you try and fail than if you don’t try at all?