By Emmanuel Ogboyoyo
As an engineer that understands constant change in user requirements. Building software products for the Nigerian market has improved significantly in the last decade. It has birthed new ways of developing products that are more user-friendly. Due to the fact that users are aware of potential startup competitors and could quickly switch off. Hence, leading tech entrepreneurs and engineers are going back to the drawing board.
Thanks to the countless businesses fighting it out in what appears to be a “startup war” and providing comparable services.
A key component of improved software development is product innovation, which also advances the ecosystem. Despite the reported progress, Senior Software Engineers frequently chose to remain with developing products that had poor user experiences as the industry developed and offered more options in terms of technology.
This article explores a few reasons behind this phenomenon and its impact on the software industry.
Complacency
At some point, complacency could set in and a senior engineer could find it difficult to learn new tools and technologies. It may be because they are comfortable with their current skill and have no interest in following the latest trend.
Some of them have spent many years using a language to code, and they are confident in their ability to build amazing products. Hence, they may see no urgency to learn new technologies or approaches. For example, agile software development over the waterfall approach.
Value quantity over quality
Another factor is that some senior software engineers are motivated by delivering results faster, rather than to come up with novel ideas. They may prioritize building products that meet the immediate needs of the business, rather than considering the long-term impact on their work.
Products that result from this could be functional but fall short of the user experience that is essential to their success.
Lack of support for creativity from business leaders
Some Senior Software Engineers may be reluctant to innovate due to a lack of support from their employer. Companies that prioritize efficiency over creativity and do not invest in research and development (R & D) can stifle the innovation of their employees. Working in such settings may deter software developers from trying out novel concepts and taking risks.
When you consider the bigger picture, you will see that certain engineers’ resistance to innovation may not be good for the IT industry as a whole. It may cause ideas to stagnate and evolve slowly, which would ultimately impede the industry’s expansion. Additionally, products developed without consideration for user experience are less likely to satisfy consumer demands and may not be long-term winners.
In conclusion, there are several variables that contribute to certain senior software engineers’ resistance to innovation. But it’s critical that people and businesses understand the value of innovation in software development and to create an enabling environment that rewards innovation and risks taking. By doing so, the software industry can continue to evolve and thrive.
About the writer
Emmanuel Ighosode Obiyoyo is a full-stack Engineer with 9+ years of work experience, proficiency in building financial APIs, and a keen knowledge of architecture and infrastructure. He’s a Senior Platform Engineer at Slide, Saudi Arabia and currently studies at Staffordshire University, United Kingdom. Software
