[Two-Minute Read] Should You Install Your Dishwasher in the Attic?

No. It would be silly to install your dishwasher in the attic. No one wants to carry dirty dishes from the kitchen sink up to the attic to wash, then back down again when clean; it makes much more sense to install your dishwasher within arm's reach of your kitchen sink instead, where you can easily transfer dishes for cleaning. A mediocre dishwasher installed next to the kitchen sink will get years of heavy, productive use, while a fantastic dishwasher flawlessly configured and installed in the attic will almost certainly rust away over time, completely ignored and unused.

Is this article really about dishwasher installation? No again. It's actually an example to illustrate a very important concept for IT - amazing technology, brilliantly configured, will garner minimal use if not made highly accessible to target users. Likewise, inferior technology (even technology unsanctioned by the IT department), will gain substantial adoption if made visible and readily available.

As simple as these points may be, they're frequently ignored in the corporate world. This doesn't happen intentionally, but is instead a product of otherwise noble focus and adherence to chain of command. Stop me if you've heard this one before: corporate leadership determines that a particular software is to be implemented by IT; IT assigns resources, who diligently install and configure the software. Great software, accurate configuration, yet a year later leadership is disheartened to learn that user adoption is low, and many users are even finding alternative solutions. Chances are, this company places far more emphasis on technology and specifications than it does on usage scenarios, process optimization, adoption, training, and support strategies. So this isn't the first time this scenario unfolds, and won't be the last.

Don't be this company. Place your focus on how technology will help your users be more productive, and how they would be most delighted when presented with it. Analyze how they'll find and interact with the technology on a regular basis, and how it will be easier to use than any alternative. Create communication plans that connect with users regularly, ongoing, and through multiple channels. Encourage users to find creative and innovative uses for the technology, and make sure you have a process to spread these ideas to other users so all can benefit.

Otherwise, you'll wind up with a terrific attic dishwasher, that no one uses.