http://qs1969.pair.com?node_id=254537


in reply to OT: Getting people to use tools

I'm trying to improve the way we do our jobs to everyone's benefit,

Well, that's what Microsoft saying as well. There are many reasons people don't use stuff the vendor claims is good for them. To name a few:

  1. They don't trust the tool.
  2. They don't trust the maker.
  3. They think the learning curve is too high.
  4. They don't think there's a benefit.
  5. They think they lose control.

And it doesn't really matter whether it's true what they think. It's the perception that matters. What's your history of making tools? Have you made tools before that weren't as good as you thought they were? Is the UI good (in their perception, not yours)? How is the documentation?

What can I do to get people to accept better hammers?

Techies make lousy sales people, but you get people to accept hammers (any hammer, not necessarely better hammers) by convincing them that a) they need to use a hammer, b) your hammer is better than what they use now, and c) the upgrade is worth it.

Abigail