Re:Ask HN: How did you decide what problems to solve in your...
by dragonsky67 on Sunday January 06, 2019 @05:21PM
(#18841118)
Agreed. It is very easy to try to disrutpt a process without understanding the reasons behind the current process. A lot more difficult to understand the current process then propose changes that address that processes shortfall.
There is always a reason why things are done a particular way "It's always been done that way" is shorthand for "I don't know why it's done that way". Like history, you need to understand the reasons behind a process before you can effectively change it, otherwise you are doomed to make the same mistakes and very soon your shiny new process will start to look as cobbled together as the previous one.
Being an outside can sometimes mean that you call attention to that, and show better ways. And with the internet and publications, can be an effective way to do that.
Most of the times however, there are reasons and you should at least understand why. But for those cases where "why" isn't defined, poke at them.... You're likely to find something interesting.