Machines vs Mindsets
In 1988, roboticist Hans Moravec made a startling discovery: robots mastered complex mathematics and chess but failed at simple human tasks like recognizing faces or picking up toys.
This "Moravec's Paradox" revolutionized AI research. Today, it reveals why organizational change fails.
A robot calculates millions of pi digits but spills coffee. A chess champion computer can't match a toddler at telling cats from dogs.
This reveals something interesting in organization change:
We're pouring resources into the easy part.
The hardest part isn't technical - it's human.
This pattern reveals a lot about transformation:
Look at any major change initiative:
• 70% of resources go to technology
• 30% go to human adaptation if any
But success demands the opposite.
That's why:
Technical implementations appear complex but follow clear solutions.
The human elements—changing behaviors, forming habits, shifting mindsets—always demand more resources than expected.
Why Evolution Matters
Every transformation fights ancient neural pathways:
- Our brains conserve energy, resist change
- We stick to what works, avoid experiments
- Our social instincts fit tribes, not global enterprises
Software installs in minutes. Changing habits takes months.
The 70/30 Solution
Smart organizations flip the traditional split:
- 70% to rewiring human habits
- 30% to technical systems
This isn't about more change management. It's about working with human nature, not against it.
Make Evolution Your Ally
- Start with existing behaviors: Build from natural patterns
- Create social proof: Our tribal brains follow the group
- Lower the energy cost: Make new easier than old
- Build in small wins: Reward immediate progress
- Track real signals: Measure behavior shifts, not system logs
Remember: A robot learns chess in hours but needs years to walk. Humans work in reverse.
Work with human nature, not against it.
The path to change lies in understanding what makes us human.