Summary:
This article from the New York Times details the proposed
launch of a new app to help day laborers prevent wage theft. Day laborers are
often paid in cash, with only informal verbal agreements made in the way of
contracts, leaving them incredibly vulnerable to wage theft and general
mistreatment on job sites. This new app, named Jornalero, will allow workers to
track the hours they work, take pictures of job sites to rate their safety, and
rate employers using a system similar to Yelp. They are hoping to bring the day
laborer community together to combat abuses in the workplace, which have gone
unfought because most day laborers are migrant workers who fear deportation if
they report anything.
Relevance:
The article talks about how the app was created as it nears
launch. This relates heavily to what we have talked about in class, in regards
to the early stages of a project. The identification of key issues, talking to
customers about requirements, and their first beta testing later this month.
The app was first conceived three years ago, and only now are they prepared for
a launch. It gives a perspective to how long the processes we’re talking about
in class can take in the real world, and how much refinement they require. They
have been talking to workers about what they want in the app, and how they can
best solve the issue since the beginning. They have built the app with those
insights in mind, and seem to have all of the features in place, which has
workers excited. It’s a good way to drill home the point that customer wants
should be primary among your inputs. They have also seen the app grow from a
one-man project to being taken over by a professional firm from San Francisco.
They have had to adapt every step of the way, which is another real world
example of how agile and adaptability are key.
For Students:
I think this article really shows how technology can fit
into any aspect of our lives, and be used to solve problems that may not have much
of a technology connection at all. As IT professionals, this is the kind of
problem we will be asked to solve. We have to be able to look at problems
creatively, and find new ways to apply technology to old issues. In that same
vein, we have to be open to markets where we may not expect them, and seize
opportunities presented to us.
Great example!! Really liked this article and thought it would really benefit a community that does not often have a voice. Thanks for sharing it.
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