Dan Devins

Simple Systems, Confident Users

My Operations Philosophy

Computers are Tools

The moment a system becomes more complicated than the problem it was meant to solve, it stops being a tool and starts being a liability. This is the simple doctrine that drives every process I build and every project I lead: Computers are tools, and they should be easy for people to use.

My goal isn't just operational stability—it's operational empowerment. When confronting a problem, I always consider the end goal and what the system is trying to accomplish. When the underlying technology is simple, robust, and intuitive, it frees up your technical teams to innovate and allows your end-users to focus on their core mission, not on fighting the software.

Rooted in Lean and Minimalism

My approach to operations is not theoretical; it's grounded in two core philosophies that prioritize value and eliminate waste:

  1. The Lean Methodology: I apply Lean principles to all support and deployment workflows, using the focus on small improvements that compound into large time savings.
  2. Minimalist Systems Design: We often mistake feature overload for functionality. I champion a minimalist approach, advocating for systems that are designed with simplicity as the non-negotiable core value. If you want good outcomes, you need good inputs, and less complexity creates a better user experience. I will start from zero when possible, keeping only the essentials.

My Three Pillars of Operational Success

Achieving true simplicity in a complex technical environment requires discipline and clear priorities. I focus my efforts on these three pillars:

The Bottom Line

I am an ambitious, confident operations leader who provides simple, effective solutions to complex problems. If you need a candidate who can execute large-scale technical projects, champions the user's needs first, and ensures that every system is built with Simplicity and confidence, we should talk. I also know that crisis creates opportunities to advocate for better systems.