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This is the most succinct description of this phenomenon I've ever seen.

As technologists, we often wonder why new, better tech doesn't dominate. If something suffices, why change?



Inertia is vast for the core systems that power large organizations. But these legacy systems do eventually yield as new requirements render change non-negotiable. Those ancient, messy, arcane, yet somehow supremely reliable systems tend to become frozen reflections of the organization they serve. It does eventually make sense to replace them when the organization has changed sufficiently that the reflection is no longer accurate.

New regulations, new products, new markets, new acquisitions, divestment, outsourcing... these are the real drivers of change that move an organization’s technology forward - not the new tech itself.


Because generally the new tech isn’t better. It’s just newer.


Because maintenance and replacement (in some way) is good practice. Quit thinking of tech as some magic thing that will never go bad and start thinking of it like any other piece of equipment. Regular maintenance is required. Replacement may be required.




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