cargo cult

Colorful illustration of businesspeople in suits, with one character having the head of a zebra.

Seeing Stripes? How to Tame the Cargo Cults in Your Tech Herd

Ever discovered painted horses masquerading as zebras in your tech landscape? My last post helped you spot these instances of cargo cults in tech – the adoption of innovations and trends without truly understanding the principles behind. This time, we’re focusing on the next crucial step: dismantling these misguided initiatives. In ‘Seeing Stripes? How to Tame the Cargo Cults in Your Tech Herd’, I share strategies to revert the influence of these ‘painted horses’ and foster an environment that breeds true zebras.

By Max Jahn, ago
A man with glasses and a beard is working intently on a laptop surrounded by a chaotic mix of notes, papers, and abstract elements.

Unveiling the Ghosts of Tech: A Framework to Identify and Navigate Cargo Cults

Cargo cult behavior is a perilous pitfall in the tech industry. It’s when an organization tries to copy the success of others without understanding the underlying concepts. This can lead to disillusionment, stagnation, and a loss of faith in leadership. It’s important to identify cargo cults in tech by evaluating whether a trend or tool has been implemented in letter or spirit. In my post I describe a framework that will help to spot this kind of dysfunctional behavior in your organization.

By Max Jahn, ago
A rustic outdoor office setup surrounded by tall seagrass and wooden furniture, with computers and chairs inside, under a canopy with warm, soft lighting.

The Cloud Center of Excellence: A Modern Cargo Cult or Catalyst for Cloud Success?

The Cloud Center of Excellence (CCoE) has become a must-have for organizations, but is it driven by the real need or a consultant-driven fad? To reap the benefits of the cloud, it is important to have a solid IT and cloud strategy first. A CCoE must be tailored to the organization’s specific requirements, goals, and context, not a generic one-size-fits-all solution. Strategic thinking before embarking on a CCoE journey is essential to unlock the full potential of the cloud and avoid the pitfalls of the cargo cult mentality

By Max Jahn, ago