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Creatures of habit
At WeAreReasonablePeople we create solutions that 'rock the boat'. Not only in relation our marine and offshore clients like Fugro, Ampelmann, Damen Shipyards, Anthony Veder etc. but also on a more general level: we create solutions that affect people's daily lives, notably.
When we introduce, for example, new applications in working processes. They'll typically bring large improvements, but also ask people to leave behind some of their old work habits. And as much as we like to celebrate efficiency in the modern world, it is still a people's game for a large part. People find comfort in habits and may resist change, even if there are clear benefits for them.
That's why our solutions rock the boat: we introduce benefits, but they can cause a stir, and that can feel a uncomfortable. Large part of our work is therefore to keep people comfortable and at ease
Digital change is, above all, a people game
Putting people first when designing new digital solutions, is not just empty rhetoric: it's a prerequisite to do what we do. We need to work customer centric, even if we would be the most misanthropic agency out there; we simply have no choice. And because our solutions 'rock the boat', a big part of our job is to make sure people stay in the boat, and perhaps give them a life jackets if that helps them feel more secure.
The best way to introduce change is to introduce it bite-size and to keep people very close by in the design process. A clearly structured step-by-step change process will furthermore help people to know what to expect. This requires excellent communication and process management skills, and visualisation techniques to make abstract concepts more tangible.
Strikingly, communication, clear process structures and process management are the first things people cut corners on, when confronted with time pressure and efficiency demands. Clear communication and process structuring takes a lot of time. But if you want to rock the boat and keep people on board, it is definitely worth the effort.
