Cracking Cholera’s Code: Victorian Insights for Today’s Technologist

In 1854, a flawed belief about cholera made the epidemic worse. Your company might be making the same mistake with its technology right now.

#1about 13 minutes

How flawed beliefs led to a deadly cholera response

The widespread belief that cholera spread via bad smells led to counterproductive actions in Victorian London, demonstrating that incorrect beliefs drive harmful behaviors.

#2about 5 minutes

Using cause and effect to validate your beliefs

A belief is only valid if it can logically explain all observed symptoms or outcomes without any missing causal links.

#3about 8 minutes

How John Snow used observations to find the real cause

Physician John Snow identified observations the miasma theory couldn't explain, proving cholera was waterborne and leading to a simple solution.

#4about 8 minutes

Uncovering the root belief behind a business problem

A proposed travel booking website addresses surface-level symptoms, but a cause-and-effect analysis reveals the true problem is a belief that staff can't be trusted.

#5about 4 minutes

How changing a core belief resolves the real problem

Shifting the core belief from distrust to trust eliminates the need for a complex approval process, solving the underlying issues without new technology.

#6about 4 minutes

Technology solidifies processes, for better or worse

Technology makes processes efficient but difficult to change, so it's critical to validate the underlying beliefs before codifying them in software.

#7about 11 minutes

Q&A on applying historical lessons to technology

The discussion covers the importance of asking 'why,' the danger of decision-makers being removed from the front line, and how expertise can narrow perspective.