Avoiding Shiny Object Syndrome: Choosing the Digital Solutions That Fuel Growth

In today’s market, everyone talks about Digital Transformation. It feels like a non-stop parade of new tools, platforms, and buzzwords. Every vendor is pushing the next big thing. For business leaders, this constant noise creates a real problem: Shiny Object Syndrome.

It is the urge to adopt the latest technology without first defining the business problem it solves. I see organizations overspending on misaligned tools, disconnected systems, and underused licenses, while missing out on true strategic potential. They end up with underused licenses and misaligned systems. This is not transformation. It is an expensive activity.

Why ‘New’ Does Not Mean ‘Necessary’

Technology must be an enabler, not a distraction. Choosing a new digital solution should feel like a strategic investment, not an impulse buy.

After years in corporate roles, I know the pressure leaders feel. Growth has to come with efficiency. Before signing a new contract or launching a pilot, stop and ask the hard questions:

• What are we trying to achieve?
• Why now?
• Who benefits and how?

If your team or vendor cannot answer those questions plainly, you have a problem. Unclear intent is a silent risk. It leads to misalignment, wasted spend , and partnerships that stall or fail. Worse, it erodes trust. In this market, unclear intent is a cost your business should not carry.

The Three Lenses for Strategic ICT Investment

When assessing any new digital solution, filter it through these three lenses. This process cuts through the vendor pitch and focuses on measurable value.

1. The Clarity of Intent Lens

This is about aligning the tech with your mission.

• Outcome Over Activity: Demand clarity on the measurable result, not the feature list. Businesses are pushing back on junior consultants trained only in frameworks and templates. They want depth, not just delivery decks.
• Vendor Alignment: Is your partner’s intent to enable your success, or to grow their revenue? That distinction matters. When a vendor starts recommending extras, the goalposts move. Pressure test their proposals early.
• Keep it Simple: When intent is muddy, so is accountability. Projects get bloated. Leaders start firefighting instead of building. Focus on solutions that bring clarity.

Your people are your first line of defense and a major risk. Train your teams on security and response. A plan only works if everyone knows their role.

2. The Delivery and Usability Lens

A great tool is useless if your people cannot or will not use it. Clients are tired of theoretical frameworks.

• Hands-On Fit: Focus on frameworks your teams can plug into their environment. Clients need support in navigating internal resistance and stakeholder alignment.
• Usable Documentation: Consultants must deliver documentation that is usable. This includes DR plans, policies, and architectures. The goal is to help clients
  actually do the work, not just tell them what to do
• Speed and Impact: Gone are the days of long ramp-up times. Clients want rapid assessments and quick wins. The best consultants remove friction, they do not just rush.

3. The Experience-Backed Authority Lens

Look for guidance from people who have actually run these systems. This is the difference between an experienced professional and an overpromised, underexperienced junior.

• Practical Guidance: You need someone who can quickly understand your context and draw from experience. That means recommendations grounded in real-world outcomes and a bias toward action. Clients want someone who has been there before.
• Zoom In and Out: Clients value consultants who can zoom in and out. They need expertise from
  enterprise architecture down to platform configuration. They need insight from
  boardroom vision to implementation blockers. This range separates top-tier independents from the rest.
• Independent Perspective: An independent consultant brings an outside view, free from organizational politics. They can ask the hard questions and challenge entrenched thinking. This perspective works best when paired with humility and tact. You are there to
  unlock progress.

Final Thought

Enterprise clients do not need another report. They need a partner who brings clarity and helps them move forward.

Stop chasing the next thing. Start demanding

clear intent and measurable outcomes from every investment. This approach not only saves capital but also frees up energy to drive real, sustainable growth.

Want to explore what a smarter, outcome-focused ICT strategy looks like for your business? Let’s connect.

Reach out or book a consultation. Visit: www.m-konsult.com/contact or connect with me on LinkedIn

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