Lud-dite – noun

Definition:

a member of any of various bands of workers in England (1811–16) organized to destroy manufacturing machinery, under the belief that its use diminished employment.

I work for a technology company. We do all sorts of non-technology things like process reengineering, project management and business change, but fundamentally we are a technology company.

At our core we believe that technology can, and does, make a difference. And yet, we also have our fair share of luddites.

I’m not talking here about the sceptic who doesn’t see any value in the latest innovation; I’m talking about the person who fundamentally disagrees with the premise that technology can make a difference.

I have to profess that this is something I don’t understand. Why would you want to work for an organisation that delivers a product that you don’t believe in?

When I visit customers I find the same thing; people who are working within the IT organisation who don’t believe that they are making a difference to their business customers.

Why would anyone choose to work in an organisation, or within a position where you are responsible for something that you hate?

I’m not expecting any answers, I’m just intrigued.