64. Technical problems and political problems

We can categorize the problems we face into two major groups:

• Technical problems: those for which there is no known solution and we must develop one.
• Political problems: those for which, despite a known solution, it is not applied. These are problems that are subordinate to the agreed-upon priorities within the organization.

Generally, most problems are political:

• If a bridge collapses due to lack of maintenance, it’s a political problem, not a technical one.
• If software fails in production, it is generally a political problem, not a technical one.

Did we invest enough resources in quality? Was the maintenance process a priority?

If the user rejects the product, it’s a political problem, not a technical one. Did we invest enough in identifying the right user and their needs?

In general, it’s about establishing the right priority, obtaining and allocating the necessary resources. That is, of course, politics.