As a software developer and architect, I spend a lot of time trying to identify the best possible solution to a business problem. The solution usually has to offer a benefit, then offer that benefit with as little negative impact to the business as possible (e.g. the amount of work/total cost of ownership).

When it comes to managing volunteers, you may pay careful attention to how your team solves problems. Just because there is a great solution doesn’t make it the best one, as it may be hard to train others or cost too much over the life of the team.

Tony Dye wrote about this with regard to some technology decisions he made for his church:

“Looking at some things we’ve done, I might have decided differently on these few. Just to clarify, I think these are all good products. I’m just questioning if they are the right products, or best products, for our needs, so please don’t hear this as a bad report on any.”

Sometimes the most popular, cheapest, or most powerful doesn’t allow volunteers to do their best. Sometimes a simple solut Read the full article