socialfi

1) Simplify the problem first!

Tools should be designed with one problem in mind. By losing focus on the one problem, they don’t solve it! Too many applications are designed to match every possible need. They said “this problem is complex, it requires a complex tool”. They actually are looking at too many problems. Pick one, let someone else solve the other ones.

Highrise simplified the problem down to the need to keep track of people and related actions. That’s it. No need to replace e-mail or try to be everything. (link to Highrise description)

2) Complex problems are really many simple problems that need many simple solutions
Highrise solves one problem, e-mail solves a different problem (quick communication), address books solves another problem (storing and organizing contacts). They work TOGETHER because they are compliments that solve different things.

I found this awesome quote from Marc Hedlund about 37 signal’s new contact management program:

Also, I think a lot of productivity tools assume that they’ll replace all the other productivity tools in my life - like how everything you attach to the “home entertainment” complex wants to be the One True Remote Control you use from then on. I like that Highrise assumes the opposite - it doesn’t replace email, it doesn’t replace address books—instead, it works with those tools.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 23rd, 2007 at 1:29 pm and is filed under simple. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.