I'm a big fan of the Māori proverb He aha te mea nui o te ao? He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata. The translation of which, for those reading from overseas is: "What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!
Look to any problem in business, in organisations or in society, and it boils down to the people, the people, the people. We spend so much time thinking about systems and processes and sometimes lose sight of the fact that these are tools built by and for people, and it is the people who determine whether those systems and processes do the right things and achieve the desired outcomes, or not.
I reflect on the He Tangata proverb often within the context of my technology work. After spending 15 years working in and around Silicon Valley, I'm perpetually surprised at how quick technologists are to introduce technologies, without any real consideration for the people who are going to use said technology.
Indeed, most of the work I've done with technology companies over the years has revolved around articulating what they do in a language that regular people can understand. Don't get me wrong, it's not binary. People need to learn to be adaptable and to make the most of the benefits that new technologies bring. At the same time, however, technology shouldn't force people to develop inefficiencies in their day. And it shouldn't be seen as the solution to people-centred issues.