You can’t fix accountability issues with technology

It’s the classic mistake. Things aren’t going well for one reason or another. As discussions start happening, the easy answer comes around – we can just make this change in the system and all of our problems will be solved. The only thing is, it wasn’t a system issue in the first place. Someone wasn’t doing their job, but either the manager didn’t want to hold the offending individual accountable, or more frequently, the company culture allows for poor performance without consequences. As a result, problems grow in magnitude and the miracle system fix gets recommended, and as a result typically creates more problems. So what should happen? Understand and address the root cause. The process only works when everyone is pulling on the same rope.