Why Technology Projects Should Start With a Problem, Not a Tool

A framework published on DEV Community argues that technology programmes fail when they begin with tool selection rather than a clearly defined operating problem. The author contends that statements like 'we need Kubernetes' or 'we need an AI agent' describe implementation choices, not the underlying issues they are meant to solve. Instead, engineering teams are advised to first identify what is expensive, risky, or operationally limiting, then gather evidence, define the smallest useful intervention, and establish measurable success criteria. The piece illustrates this approach across common scenarios including cloud cost optimisation, reliability engineering, and AI workflow automation. The core argument is that technology delivers value only when the problem, evidence, and expected outcome are made explicit before any solution is chosen.