RestonTech Philosophy

Don't Search For Answers, Search For Correct Answers

When faced with a problem, there is a tendency to become emotionally attached to the first "good idea" that comes up as a solution. More often than you might think, you have time to evaluate more than one solution. Get as wide a variety of ideas as is practical. Avoid choosing an early favorite, since this will influence others with similar ideas and discourage any dissension (therefore potentially passing over a better idea).

Corollaries:

Impress Your Customers, Not Your Investors

History has shown that businesses that focus on impressing venture capitalists or Wall Street, at the expense of their customers, fail. Then nobody is impressed.

Don't Fix Something Without Knowing What's Wrong

When faced with unexpected behavior on a computer, programmers first gather diagnostics. They want error logs, details of error messages, and specific information about what was happening when the problem surfaced. The same approach is critical to solving tricky business problems. Survey your customers. Examine the books. Take the time to understand what they mean. Determine, before you start, what defines smooth operation and what defines a problem. Maybe there is nothing wrong at all, it just is taking longer than expected for a process or system to bear fruit.

Don't Change for Change's Sake

Be wary of anyone suggesting "Maybe we just need to try something new?" Change merely for the sake of change is a bad idea. Rapid changes in business processes and personnel, in the hopes that novelty will be the "kick in the pants" needed, will rarely yield the desired results. Such changes are expensive and disruptive, and if implemented frequently have a detrimental effect on employee morale.

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	Home Products/Solutions Philosophy About Us A bad idea is a bad idea Never start a project on version 2.0 Avoid surprises Don't search for answers, search for correct answers	Don't Search For Answers, Search For Correct Answers When faced with a problem, there is a tendency to become emotionally attached to the first "good idea" that comes up as a solution. More often than you might think, you have time to evaluate more than one solution. Get as wide a variety of ideas as is practical. Avoid choosing an early favorite, since this will influence others with similar ideas and discourage any dissension (therefore potentially passing over a better idea). Corollaries: Impress Your Customers, Not Your Investors History has shown that businesses that focus on impressing venture capitalists or Wall Street, at the expense of their customers, fail. Then nobody is impressed. Don't Fix Something Without Knowing What's Wrong When faced with unexpected behavior on a computer, programmers first gather diagnostics. They want error logs, details of error messages, and specific information about what was happening when the problem surfaced. The same approach is critical to solving tricky business problems. Survey your customers. Examine the books. Take the time to understand what they mean. Determine, before you start, what defines smooth operation and what defines a problem. Maybe there is nothing wrong at all, it just is taking longer than expected for a process or system to bear fruit. Don't Change for Change's Sake Be wary of anyone suggesting "Maybe we just need to try something new?" Change merely for the sake of change is a bad idea. Rapid changes in business processes and personnel, in the hopes that novelty will be the "kick in the pants" needed, will rarely yield the desired results. Such changes are expensive and disruptive, and if implemented frequently have a detrimental effect on employee morale.