All Hands on Tech

12Preparing to Set Sail

You have probably realized that this book’s title is a play on the phrase “all hands on deck,” which originated in the context of sailing ships. When a ship was in a crisis, the captain would call for “all hands on deck,” meaning that every member of the crew was needed to help. We can think of no better analogy for this moment in enterprise transformation. Everyone is needed.

And everyone is uniquely capable of adding value. As described by former Amtrak executive Sarina Arcari, “The frontline people know what the problem is, and they know what the solution is. That’s where the gold is buried.” There is much value in the insight and ingenuity that resides in the front line.

So let’s prepare to set sail. This chapter and the next five explore what is needed to ensure a journey on which “all hands” are able to contribute, using technologies suited to their abilities and skill sets.

These chapters are not a formal toolkit for designing and deploying citizen initiatives nor a formal curriculum that can be followed to become a citizen developer. We are not so bold as to suggest that we have determined the best way to proceed on this journey. The optimal toolkit, approach, and learning path depends on internal, external, and environmental factors unique to a corporation’s culture, industry, staff, and “innovation DNA.” It also depends on the leadership team, comfort with risk, willingness to encourage experimentation, and tolerance for levels of agency and ...