Don’t Embrace Failure, Transcend It

While "fail fast, fail cheap, fail often" has become a mantra of the digital age, the truth is that there is nothing beneficial about failure. Embracing it too often is a cop-out rather than a strategy. Technology should be used to mitigate failure, solve data problems, overcome social failures, and transform failure through simulation and big data techniques. For example, the use of modern project management technology can help capture full experimental details at source and mitigate errors in data interpretation. The publishing and cheap accessibility of data can ensure all results, including negative findings are published, aiding replication. In overcoming social failures, technology can offer a platform for connecting people with similar interests and experiences. Millions of people can connect, learn and create through technology. Simulation and big data techniques can help reduce errors and create better decision making.