The interchangeability of numbers on a board.

Imagine you need to tell a story with numbers. You start putting a poster board together with numbers that will change daily. Let’s pick an example, a board illustrating the number of days without an accident in a warehouse. You have multiple ways to make this board, what do you choose?

You can write in the number and put tape over it every day. You can print out a new number block every day and tape it. You can make a set of interchangeable numbers multiple one through nine’s that get attached with velcro. You can have a digital readout where the number is. How much effort you put in to customization depends on the change that happens daily and how long you imagine you’ll need it, the importance of the item you’re trying to convey and your budget.

On a small scale, this is the choice that is made about business systems daily.