An Ounce of Prevention

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”

This quote by Benjamin Franklin has been ringing in my head lately.

Early research — whether it’s talking to users or observing their environments — is so crucial and can save lots of time, effort, and money later. However, many companies and organizations don’t do it. Instead, they may spend a year building a feature that no one uses.

This strikes me as similar to the role of prevention in public health.

Rather than attend yearly checkups, foster daily habits that are heart-healthy, for example, many only show up with clogged arteries or at the moment of a cardiac event. (I want to pause to acknowledge here the social determinants of health; there are bigger structures that allow some of us to lead healthier lives than others.)

While fostering healthy habits may seem boring or tedious, the good news is that early research is fascinating and fun, in my humble opinion! So, why don’t we do it? Why is often our first call for help at the business equivalent of clogged arteries, or cardiac arrest?

What would an ounce of prevention look like in your company or organization?

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This post appeared originally on Spark Insights’ LinkedIn page in June 2023.