Human beings are complex. Worsening the situation is stubbornness of sticking to ideas and beliefs even when results have consistently shown that we are not on the right track. Often, we are set in our ways having hardened our hearts against any other voices, especially those advocating adoption of simple solutions for solving complex problems. We tend to believe that the more complex the solution is, the likely it is that it is the correct one.  The thought is, “After all, if it were that easy to some such a complex problem with that simple solution, how come it was never tried or done before?” We forget that such simple solutions were often never given a chance to advance and be developed. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 01 March 2024.

Truth is, “there’s nothing new under the sun”. Only the technology is new, and not the core solution and its underlying concepts. Yet, we easily gravitate towards the unassailable, the costly, the time-consuming and complex approaches because they give us reasons and motivation for waking and going to work daily.

Technology implementations are notorious for this type of stubbornness. Many find it easy blaming so-called legacy systems for operational failures, and quite often correctly so. However, some aspects of that legacy are often wrongly blamed for the troubles experienced.

Systems are not like motor vehicles that could be easily tossed in favour of newer models. Some treat systems the same way old towns and cities are treated, with town planners simply designing a new city in a different new location, abandoning the old city to decay. Some aspects of systems, especially those responsible for enabling companies to generate the bulk of income can be likened to the human spine.

Like the body, many organs can be replaced with new and foreign parts, some with artificial ones but it is impossible to renew or replace the spine. Fiddling with the cord can easily result in disability and thus stability. Unless a new body is formed afresh, things like the spine should best be left alone. Everything else can be carefully touched. Some legacy systems are like the spine, once touched, the entire system breaks. This reminds me of the popular social media saying that, “mess around and you’ll find out”. Many have regretfully found out and the calamities cannot be reversed.

Many have brutal scars to show for fiddling with the spine of the company that is responsible for its profits over the years. New leaders and managers with little understanding of those legacy solutions found it easier pleading for the adoption of a clean sweep and overhaul of systems. Of course, such resolutions often bring good news to system integrators because they offer them decades of opportunities of generating income from unassailable quest for wall-to-wall replacement of those systems.

By my opposition to complete replacement, I’m not arguing for the retention of unhelpful legacy solutions. I’m merely calling for caution, calm and rationale heads in identifying and determining the spine of the legacy system. Then isolate it from the rest to identify the correct candidates for replacement and modernisation. Leave the spine alone, rather build measures to ensure it is protected and sustained. We easily understand this with our bodies yet fail dismally in understanding the same analogy in handling legacy systems.

Every case ought to be reviewed on its merits. Extra precautions should be taken in ensuring that the spine of the company’s operations is left alone.

It’s easy to identify the spine of operational systems because it usually works hard and stably in the background, grinding effortlessly and doing its work consistently without fail. Often, it is not user facing but located usually between the middle and back parts of business systems. It has a proven track record of maintaining stability and often “croaks” when tinkered without much due diligence conducted.

Truth is, we know this, yet are easily overcome and taken in by smooth talking, eloquent and mesmerising orators. Such advocates usually don’t even have longevity, are easily bored and are more interested in working in new things than living with their concoction. They also loathe pegging their rewards to the outcome of the solutions whose implementation they have advocated. Nowadays there’s little appetite for investing in things that take time to implement, but those offering instant results and rewards.

I won’t please many with my appeal for exercising caution, and risks of ignoring perfectly working solutions be evaluated. Such calls can be misconstrued as taking a stance against transformation. We cannot stop others from wrongly labelling us. Only time can vindicate those telling and pursuing the truth.

May truth prevail without delay to expose lies and wasters of scarce and valuable resources. Keep it simple, always!