Yay, new technology!

Colleagues,

​Last week, I flew from Asheville to San Francisco to spend a few days with my mom.

I was shocked to find that the TSA screening line was empty! I moved straight to the front and then received the wonderful news that they were using a new technology and that I wouldn’t have to take anything out of my bags, even my laptop. I rejoiced.

I merrily went through the body scan and walked over to the conveyor to get my stuff. There were a couple of people there already, so I waited. And waited. And waited.

Maybe the new technology requires more time to scan and it seemed like it was flagging a lot of bags for extra scrutiny.

The new tech treated the problem of having to remove items from your baggage. That should have made things easier, but it actually seemed to increase the effort required by the TSA people, resulting in a slowdown of the entire process.

One of the challenges with change is always unanticipated consequences. 

As we make changes, don’t confuse action for effectiveness. Just because we are doing something about a problem, doesn’t mean that we are actually making things better.

Do good and be well,

Frederick