Tools vs. People

People vs Tools? You’re Asking the Wrong Question

Let’s talk about a debate that keeps popping up in construction circles, tools vs people. You’ve probably heard it said, “We focus too much on the tools we need to focus on the people.”

And to be honest, that’s not wrong.

Many lean practitioners warn against relying solely on tools like spreadsheets, processes, and systems at the expense of investing in people, culture, and behavior change. They’re trying to protect us from the trap of implementing systems without soul prioritizing procedures over people.

The Tools Should Serve the People

In my own experience at a large construction company, we saw excellent results when we combined lean tools with a strong focus on people:
Production increased
On-time completions rose from 66% to 88% and climbing
Training programs were thriving

But the moment leadership decided to keep the tools and ditch the people centric side no more teaching, mentoring, or development the entire system started to crumble. Tools without people is a hollow, unsustainable approach.

The Real Enemy Isn’t the Tool It’s Disrespect

Let me be clear, the problem isn’t tools. It’s how tools are used and more importantly, how people are treated while using them.

This isn’t about people versus tools.

It’s about people using tools in an educated, collaborative, and respectful environment against the cult of systematic disrespect for people.

Even Toyota, the poster child for lean, teaches that among the three enemies of productivity waste, unevenness, and overburden you should always eliminate overburden first.

In construction, overburden is rampant. We overload superintendents. We bury trades under impossible schedules. We use CPM as a shield to deflect blame and crash timelines instead of solving root problems.

That’s not a tool issue. That’s a behavior issue.

What the “Cult of Disrespect” Looks Like

Let’s call it what it is, the cult of disrespect in construction.

It’s when decision makers sit in their offices and never set foot on a jobsite but still demand unpaid overtime.

It’s GCs that protect their own profits while trade partners bleed.

It’s schedulers who only know how to crash timelines and blame foremen when the plan fails.

It’s designers who issue last minute changes without accountability.

It’s owners’ reps yelling at contractors like entitled toddlers who didn’t get their ice cream.

This toxic culture has its own commandments:

• Overburden people.
• Blame the younger generation.
• Avoid personal accountability.
• Build contracts that pass the buck.
• Assume people are lazy or stupid.

This is the real enemy not the tools, but the mindset that people are disposable.

A Hammer Doesn’t Hurt People People Hurt People

A hammer is neutral. It can build or destroy depending on who wields it and how they use it. Tools don’t create toxic cultures people do.

The hard truth? It’s easier to attack tools than to challenge institutions, systems, and behaviors.

And that’s why I’m fine being the “Wicked Witch of the West” in construction. If that means standing up against the cult of disrespect, then sign me up.

who was branded as evil for refusing to comply with a corrupt system, I’ll keep speaking out because people matter.

So, sure, we can keep having the “people vs. tools” debate. But let’s not lose sight of the real fight.

The real fight is People vs Disrespect.

Key Takeaway

Tools are not the enemy. The real challenge in construction is combating the systematic disrespect for people. Sustainable success comes from empowering people to use tools in an environment that values collaboration, respect, and continuous learning.