The Power of Choice

One of the things I've been guilty of taking for granted lately is the power of choice. It's too easy, particularly in the world of IT, to become enamored with a particular technology and then become a fanboy. It's important to peel back the prejudice so we can evaluate things based on a measured response instead of a knee-jerk reaction.

For example, I often get asked about the value of cloud computing vs. putting server infrastructure on-site. I have come to realize that there is no value in having a stance on which is better or worse. To quickly jump on either answer would be presumptuous and not in the best interest of my client. The power of choice is important not only to our client but to us as an IT service provider because it allows us to formulate the best rather than the most popular or attractive solution. Another example that will resonate for a lot of people is in the personal & mobile computing space. Apple has mobilized an army of loyal followers who sometimes find it difficult to admit that what they do is anything but perfect (I was guilty of this until the iPhone 4 debacle finally undid my hypnosis). Can anyone honestly say that the iPhone, iMac, iPod, etc. are perfect for everyone? It took me a long time to realize a simple fact that when it comes to phones, personal computers, tablet PCs, homes, cars, etc. people want CHOICE.

Does this mean I have no opinion or prejudice? Certainly not, in fact quite the opposite! It is rare that I would not have an answer on "the best approach" after understanding the business, the challenge driving technology, and the available budget. In reality, I often have this opinion well in advance of fully understanding these metrics - however, I have learned to bite my tongue until all key factors are known and a solution can be developed. In the end, we need to learn to respect choice as this is what makes the world so interesting.