Technology: Friend or Foe?

More than 20 years ago, I was tasked with training a group of foresters to use new field data collection technology that would require them to change their field procedures. Needless to say, most of them vehemently opposed the change. Even with pressure from the organization to adopt the technology, some continued to rebel to the point that they would use their legacy methods (pencil/paper) in the woods, only to return to their truck and enter the data from the paper to the handheld data recorder.

I admit it, I hate to change too.

In fact, my notebook computer is way past its retirement age (four years old). The sound doesn’t work any more, some screen pixels don’t work, the battery lasts abut 45 minutes, and it’s running Windows Vista. I’ve actually bought another notebook computer, but haven’t made the transition. The pain of trying to find all of the software installation CDs, etc. of all the software I have on this computer is still greater than the pain of no sound, a so-so screen, and a lousy battery. So, I carry two notebook computers with me when I travel. It’s pretty sad.

Sometimes we don’t have the luxury of choice and we are forced to change. Today’s world is not what it was when I was growing up. It’s changing, and it keeps changing. My father worked for the same organization for 30+ years. We had dinner every evening at 5:30 p.m. when we all sat around the dinner table. That’s the life I knew. Set it on cruise control and enjoy the ride.

However, that way of life is over. It was great while it lasted, but I doubt it will ever exist again.

At 24, after my four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force and picking up my college degree, my first job out of college was at a high-technology start-up company. At the time, I had no clue how that experience would help prepare me for today’s economy.

As many of you know, at a small company (especially a start-up in the high-technology industry) it’s all about getting the job done. Pulling all-nighters, working through lunch, and working 12-hour days is a regular part of life. “Whatever it takes” is a common phrase. The concept of comp time, sick days, and even vacation days (at times), are luxuries only enjoyed by others. On more than one occasion, I watched my vacation days evaporate on December 31. It’s not a particularly healthy lifestyle if you don’t pay attention to work/family balance.

However, it did prepare me for the harsh reality of the new economy, one in which job security is minimal and one in which you need to prove your worth on a weekly basis, making it tough to avoid pulling your weight, and some extra. In short, one needs to bring their “A” game every week.

I’ve spoken with many, many people who dream about “the way things used to be.” They say it was an easier and less stressful time, and they generally hold a negative view of technology because they feel it has cost jobs. They say that computers have replaced people.

I agree, it was an easier and less stressful time. However, I submit that pressure and stress forces us to find more creative and innovative solutions. Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs is the #1 non-fiction best seller, according to the New York Times. It’s clear that Jobs produced some of the most innovative and successful products and services of our time. Yet, he created a highly stressful and uncomfortable work environment. Emotional outbursts and “on-the-spot” firings were not unusual and directed at those who weren’t producing at the level Jobs deemed essential. Obviously, it wasn’ t the healthiest environment, but is there a better way to squeeze the highest performance from people?

It reminds me of a quote from Tom Landry, who for many years was the coach of the Dallas Cowboys professional football team. He said “Leadership is getting someone to do what they don’t want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.”

Reading that statement makes me think back to the group of foresters I mentioned above. None of them wanted to change. They really didn’t see the benefit of the electronic devices over their proven pencil/paper technology. They thought it was great for the data processing folks who didn’t have to transcribe the paper notes any longer, but thought the field foresters were the ones who were paying the price by hauling around the handheld devices. Eventually, they succumbed to the technology and it became the “new normal.” Years later, many of them told me that they eventually tossed out their pencil/paper and couldn’t imagine going into the woods without their handheld computer. I’m sure there were a few die-hards who bought enough time until their retirement to avoid the pain of change, but the others had no choice to transition to the electronic age.

One of the major changes the world is facing today is geography. With respect to our profession, digital geography (GIS) has a tremendous amount of upside. It’s not just a tool for scientists any longer. Digital geography in everyone’s lives is becoming more ubiquitous, from GPS navigation systems in your car to different location-based services (LBS) apps on your mobile phone.

On the other hand, physical geography is working against some industries. It used to be that having a “local office” allowed companies to charge a premium for their service. Before the Internet revolution, how did you buy an airline ticket? When’s the last time you visited a travel agent? What happened to travel agencies? Whereas they had a valuable geographic advantage that linked the services providers (airlines, cruise lines, hotels, rental cars, etc.) to the consumer, that advantage disappeared almost overnight with the Internet revolution. At the end of the day, 90 percent of the travel agencies didn’t offer enough value beyond the geographic advantage to justify their existence.

Think about other industries that rely on physical geography to justify their existence. Realtors, insurance agents, etc. I just recently dumped Allstate as my automobile insurance provider and signed up with GEICO. Allstate has a local agent, or three. GEICO doesn’t, as far as I know. Do I care? No. In the five or so years I was with Allstate, I don’t remember ever meeting the agent. He’s doing a disservice to Allstate and to himself. He’s made himself insignificant.

That’s really what it boils down to in this economy. How much value do you bring to your organization? If you call in sick tomorrow, does anyone care? Have you made yourself valuable enough to your organization that they can’t afford to let you go?

Recently, one of my Facebook friends posted a quote from George Monbiot. I don’t know if it is an original quote of his or not, but here goes.

“If wealth was the inevitable result of hard work and enterprise, every woman in Africa would be a millionaire.”

It’s really not about how hard you work. Most of us probably couldn’t keep up with the woman in Africa Monbiot is referring to with respect to hard work. It is about what you bring to the table. If your best skill is possessed commonly by others, then you’re relatively insignificant. That translates into poor job security and low pay. If you are indespensable to your organization, it will go out of its way to keep you employed and likely pay you what you are worth.

Like it or not, the world economy is not going to return to what it used to be. We had one heck of a run starting with the industrial revolution. The 30+-year career like my father had is a rarity instead of the norm. Careers will be dynamic, moving from project to project. The more unique your skillset is, the better choice of projects you’ll have.

Last week, I was traveling  and stopped by one of the golf course projects I’m involved in. The club hired a new assistant superintendent (greenskeeper). He is a very recent college graduate. Most golf course superintendents like to be outdoors instead of driving a desk. As a result, many of them aren’t technology savvy, especially when it comes to GIS and GPS technology. After spending a couple of hours with him, he picked up the concept and operation of the tree mapping system quite well. Then his mind started working and he started asking me about other things he could do with the system (mapping irrigation, drainage, greens, etc.). I suggested that if he could master this technology, he’d be a step ahead of the crowd in his chosen profession.

“Yep,” he said, “one more thing to add to my resume.”

He probably didn’t understand how profound that statement was.

Thanks, and see you next time.

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