It's Just Easier to Blame the Technology

There are important lessons to learn from the 2020 Iowa Democratic Caucus and they have little to do with politics...

On Monday, February 3rd 2020, the state of Iowa held their Democratic Primary Caucus.

The Iowa Caucus is the first major contest in the US Presidential Primary season, triggering the start of an emotionally charged challenge for the Presidency.

But this event was going to be a special one for Iowa.

Because Iowa was implementing new technology to record and report caucus results.

Here's the deal, technology is scary for some people.

Especially for segments of the population that aren't accustomed to using it.

'New things' are scary too.

So, for anyone who has ever participated in a caucus or election event of any kind, take notice of the volunteers running the situation.

These are kind hearted people who are trying to make a difference in their community and participate in an incredibly important process.

They're also, by and large, not a group of progressive technology users.

Like, at all.

You'll find plenty of flip phones in this group. And there's nothing wrong with that.

But now, give them new technology.

Then, don't train them OR don't hold them accountable to being well trained.

And also, don't test the technology appropriately.

Plus, do all this under the stressful spotlight of national attention.

When things go wrong with rolling out new technology, it's always easier to call it a 'technology glitch.'

Because no one wants to call it what it really is...

Mismanagement.

But when the fear of trying new things is realized, we revert back to the old.

And no progress is made.

Better to recognize first who you are.

And who you are not.

Then take the steps necessary to make sure that a people problem doesn’t become a technology problem.