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How simplicity adds value in our lives?



      I do agree that simplicity is a key competitive advantage in current times.  Our lives and the world around us are so complex that simplicity is a refreshing change.  Obviously, there is a balance that we must strike.  An item can offer simplicity of use or design while still offering great advantages.  One example that comes to mind is the iPhone.  The iPhone utilizes a sleek, yet simple design, and one of its main draws is the simplicity of iOS, the phone’s operating system.  Technology can be complicated for newcomers, and part of what has made the iPhone so successful is its ease and simplicity of use. 

      According to Ted James in the book Operations Strategy, “Two aspects of functional design are reliability and maintainability.” (James, 2010).  James goes on to specify that  “reliability measures the probability that a product or service will perform its intended function for a specified period of time under normal conditions of use” (James, 2010), whereas “maintainability considers the cost of servicing the product or service when it is in use” (James, 2010). Both reliability and maintainability are important for adding value to customers.  Even if a product is designed with simplicity, if the product is not reliable, the customer will not be happy with it.  Similarly, if a product employs simplicity and yet there is a high cost of serving the product, a customer will also be disappointed, and the simplicity of its design will be irrelevant.  Hence, reliability and maintainability are just as important as simplicity of design when considering a satisfying customer experience.


    I am a big fan of Apple products and I have already briefly mentioned to iPhone, which I feel has added value to me as a customer.  Because of the vast number of applications available in the iPhone’s app store, I can also use my phone as a calculator, a flashlight, and a GPS system.  I have found the GPS system to be especially useful when I take trips out of town or travel to a new destination.  On the flip side, I do feel as though my dependance on my iPhone has had some downsides in my life as well.  I definitely do not spend as much time with friends as I used to.  I spend a great deal of time on social media, and while communicating with others on social media can be a great tool, it is no substitute for spending time with a friend in person.  I found that this had an effect on my work life balance, and I know this is becoming a common complaint among working professionals, as they feel they must cut into their home life and their family time in order to answer work calls or emails, and this can lead to burnout or strains in one’s marriage or home life.



     Nevertheless, I do value Apple products and find them useful in my life.  Their ease of use and the many functions that a device can provide are only one aspect of what makes them appealing.  They also have a very simple and elegant design, and this is another aspect of the phone that draws in many customers.  Finally, I happen to live in a city that has an Apple store, which means I can take my iPhone in to the Apple store whenever I have a problem, and they will meet with me in person to fix the problem.  This is yet another aspect that makes the user experience positive for me.  The iPhone has been extremely popular throughout the world, and while it has its downsides, there are many advantages to owning this product and it provides an easy user experience that many in the modern world, myself included, have become accustomed to using on a daily basis. 



Works Referenced:

Brown, T. (2009). Designers—think big! TED.  [Video File]. Retrieved from:  http://www.ted.com/talks/tim_brown_urges_designers_to_think_big?language=en

James, T. (2011). Operations Strategy. bookboon.com

Yen, S. (2014). How Design Thinking Drives Competitive Advantage. Forbes. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2014/08/11/how-design-thinking-drives-competitive-advantage/#7c1f8eaa7a53 

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