Cracking Cholera’s Code: Victorian Insights for Today’s Technologist
In 1854, a flawed belief about cholera made the epidemic worse. Your company might be making the same mistake with its technology right now.
#1about 13 minutes
How flawed beliefs led to a deadly cholera response
The widespread belief that cholera spread via bad smells led to counterproductive actions in Victorian London, demonstrating that incorrect beliefs drive harmful behaviors.
#2about 5 minutes
Using cause and effect to validate your beliefs
A belief is only valid if it can logically explain all observed symptoms or outcomes without any missing causal links.
#3about 8 minutes
How John Snow used observations to find the real cause
Physician John Snow identified observations the miasma theory couldn't explain, proving cholera was waterborne and leading to a simple solution.
#4about 8 minutes
Uncovering the root belief behind a business problem
A proposed travel booking website addresses surface-level symptoms, but a cause-and-effect analysis reveals the true problem is a belief that staff can't be trusted.
#5about 4 minutes
How changing a core belief resolves the real problem
Shifting the core belief from distrust to trust eliminates the need for a complex approval process, solving the underlying issues without new technology.
#6about 4 minutes
Technology solidifies processes, for better or worse
Technology makes processes efficient but difficult to change, so it's critical to validate the underlying beliefs before codifying them in software.
#7about 11 minutes
Q&A on applying historical lessons to technology
The discussion covers the importance of asking 'why,' the danger of decision-makers being removed from the front line, and how expertise can narrow perspective.
Related jobs
Jobs that call for the skills explored in this talk.
Matching moments
04:54 MIN
Addressing cultural transformation in tech adoption
HR Tech: An Essential Ingredient for Tech-Driven Business Transformation
02:46 MIN
Transforming technology and internal ways of working
IKEA Story: Transforming an Iconic Retail Brand
04:53 MIN
Shifting from rigid process thinking to impact thinking
Breaking Silos: Successful Collaboration Between Tech & Business Teams in Complex Enterprise Systems
03:25 MIN
Why most corporate transformation initiatives fail
How Visionary Leaders Drive Transformation
02:44 MIN
Technology must be paired with social change to be effective
Technology is Necessary, But Not Sufficient
02:24 MIN
Why bad software is a communication problem
What makes a great Software Engineer? Challenging our Assumptions Instead of Talking about Imposter Syndrome
03:08 MIN
How teams make poor tech choices in isolation
Introducing a Digital Service Catalog for speed and scale
04:08 MIN
Identifying the root cause of tech implementation failure
Developers share the most interesting tech they ever builtMost people's first thoughts about Hacker News revolve around venture capital, stock prices, company valuations, and $1499 dongles. But what if we told you that Hacker News could also be a place for pure, consummate, wholesome content that tackles ho...
Eli McGarvie
Stop Wasting Time: How to Lead a Stand-Up Meeting & Get ResultsWe all know the feeling: your stand-up meeting starts… and the energy in the room slowly deflates. Eyes glaze over, minds wander. Maybe you can even see their attention drop on smartphones or laptops.Within minutes or even seconds, instead of a quick...
Chris Heilmann
WeAreDevelopers LIVE days are changing - get ready to take partStarting with this week's Web Dev Day edition of WeAreDevelopers LIVE Days, we changed the the way we run these online conferences. The main differences are:Shorter talks (half an hour tops)More interaction in Q&AA tips and tricks "Did you know" sect...
Daniel Cranney
How software is steering vehicle technologyThe automotive industry is entering a transformative era, and developers have a unique opportunity to be part of it. Cars are no longer just mechanical machines; they’re sophisticated tech platforms with software at their core. This shift, defined by...
From learning to earning
Jobs that call for the skills explored in this talk.
25:30
21:39
46:42
1:01:43
1:06:16
1:05:49
59:00
37:09
.webp?w=240&auto=compress,format)
