People in the IT industry use this term all the time. Almost always when there’s an update of a software, you can see in the changelog the line “Various quality of life improvements.”
But what do they mean by that? “Quality of life improvements” in the field of the IT industry, are software improvements meant to change the overall user experience for the better. This can include (without being limited to) user interface changes, task automation, changes in the source code to make the program react more “humanlike”, etc. (The last part, some would call AI, but I don’t like using the term, as at it’s core, this is still a computer program reacting as expected by anyone with access to and understanding of its source code. Real intelligence cannot be 100% predictable, because it also includes an element of creativity.) In short, these are all improvements that aren’t changing the core workings of the software, but can make the user’s life so much easier, that is literally like breathing new life even into the oldest of software. And this is of course why these improvements are considered so important.
Having learned that, have you ever wondered what would be the effect of some “Quality of (work) life” improvements, on the performance of your employees?
If your employees are (some of – some others being clients, vendors, etc.) the users of your business, have you ever considered what would be the effect on their performance, following some quality of life improvements?
What would be for example the change of increased parking space making commuting hassle-free? Or of corporate mobiles making communication easier? Or laptops, allowing for true remote working capabilities? What about dual monitors for everyone, that can skyrocket productivity? (Unless you see people replicating instead of extending them, in which case you can easily understand who are the least bright among your employees.) Or numpads for everyone, allowing ease of calculations? How about wireless keyboards and mice, making working meetings run as smoothly as a baby’s skin. And headsets (proper ones – the last firm I was working at, had given us some in-ear ones (earbuds) that caused headache after half an hour of use – but then again, the partners of the firm weren’t using them, only the commoners) of course, instead of phones…
I could go on for about two more pages, but I believe I have already provided more than enough examples to make my point.
Do half of the above and you won’t regret it. Do them all and you’ll thank me for a lifetime – I guarantee that!