It is time to stop relying on computers to manage information.
Computers do a terrible job of it.
Computers don’t necessarily expand the human mind, they shut it down in many ways.
The job of thinking has been outsourced to a machine. While this may seem like a way to let logic prevail, it is absolutely terrible for any new thinking to emerge.
You are now relying on the built-in logic of others. It doesn’t matter if the logic is good or bad, you are relying on it.
And even more scarily, everyone else using that program is relying on the same logic.
Bookkeeping programs embed the logic of the accounting industry which is series of accepted practices and standards.
But other areas applications don’t really have the same set of standards. So there is a lot variation in most other business activities that coming up with a standard way of doing things is probably not productive.
That is where the fine line is. Automating generally accepted practices is perfectly fine if there is no compelling reason to change it. But using automation where practices are more nebulous may not make any sense.
The conundrum of business is data. How much data is enough and how do you know when to double down or change paths?
Automation may help you collect more accurate data, but it still may not be enough.
Data automation, data collection and data analysis are problematic. They inform and conform and that is not necessarily the approach for innovation.
To have more differentiation and innovation, it is better stop relying on computers.
Photo by kevin dooley 
