I recently came across an interesting article by Robert Capps in Wired titled “The Good Enough Revolution: When Cheap and Simple is Just Fine”. As an organization that makes a strong effort to stay on top of the latest technology trends and tools, this article made me stop and think about our current uses of hardware and the requirements we have to operate efficiently.
As the article describes, products like the Flip Camera have “stunned the industry”, offering “cheap, fast and simple tools” that are extremely popular. The article points to several examples of customers moving towards easy-to-use tools that offer most (if not the majority) of the functionailty we need at a price that cannot be ignored (as is the case of cloud computing, where many software tools are free).
Capps outlines three elements that participants of the “Good Enough Revolution” are focused on; ease of use, continuous availability, and low price. As he explains, “Thanks to the speed and connectivity of the digital age, we’ve stopped fussing over pixel counts, sample rates, and feature lists”. These elements resonate with what we’re building as a non-profit organization, and our goals to be an open-source organization (where our volunteers, staff, stakeholders and fans can participate and collaborate).
As tech tools continue to become the method for which we produce great work (instead of becoming the work itself), do we need flashy options and endless capabilities (and lengthy training courses?) or do we need software that allows us to create, produce and remix awesome work without huge start-up times (and costs). I vote for the latter. As Shel Holtz has said in regards to social media, “It’s not about the tool, it’s about the conversation”.
In evaluating new technical tools for our organization, I am faced with questions like “will our users pick up and start using the tool without much training? Is it accessible and in the cloud? Is it collaborative? I look for tools that can complete the task (ideally quicker and easier than desktop software), that don’t demand a huge learning curve, and at times, ones that have a “cool factor”.
Maybe more importantly, the Good Enough Revolution is successful because it allows organizations to get started in using the tools now, and then adapt and grow in the future. Picking up the “Good Enough” tools and running without a strategy isn’t the reason why they are so popular. In fact, using too many tools without a plan is a surefire way to confusion, disorganization and duplicated processes. Instead, organizations should look to “Good Enough” tools as a way to excute strategies and projects without commitments to expensive software, training and extended planning. Get going, experiment and adapt.
It’s interesting that Capps writes, “As more and more industries move their business online, they too will find success in Good Enough tools that focus on maximizing accessibility. It’s a reflection of our new value system. We’ve changed.” At Framework, it is clear that our values lie with accessibility and open-source. What do you think about the Good Enough Revolution? Are there some features that the “quick and easy” tools can’t provide for you?
