What To Fix First:
A Technology Triage Framework
By Nicholas Johnson, Founder of Ataviz Consulting
If you’re leading a small or mid-sized business, there’s a good chance you’ve uttered some version of this sentence in the last year:
“We know we need to improve our tech… we just don’t know where to start.”
You're not alone.
With the rapid pace of digital change, it's easy for operations, IT, data, and marketing systems to become fragmented or outdated—especially when your primary focus is growth, not backend infrastructure. But avoiding those fixes comes at a cost: lost productivity, missed opportunities, and mounting technical debt.
I’ve helped dozens of businesses through this exact challenge. That’s why I've developed a Technology Triage Framework—a simple, strategic way to figure out what to prioritize first, based on impact, urgency, and scalability.
Step 1: Assess the Damage – Where Are the Friction Points?
Before throwing money or resources at a new system, ask:
Where are we feeling the most pain?
- Is your website slow or outdated? You’re losing leads before they even call.
- Still using spreadsheets for customer data? You’re wasting hours you don’t have.
- Relying on a single local server? You’re one step away from disaster.
Create a list of your top 3-5 operational bottlenecks or tech frustrations—then move to triage.
Step 2: Apply the Triage Filter
Use this simple scoring method to evaluate each issue:
| Category | Score 1-5 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Impact | How much is this hurting your revenue, time, or brand? | |
| Urgency | How likely is this to cause immediate disruption or risk? | |
| Scalability | Will fixing this support future growth or flexibility? |
Total each item’s score. The highest scoring issue isn’t just the loudest—it’s the smartest place to start.
Step 3: Map to a Modern Tech Pillar
Once you’ve prioritized, categorize the issue by tech pillar—so you know who to call and what to ask for:
| Category | What It Usually Means | Possible Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Web & SEO | Site performance, search rankings, online presence | Site audit, performance tuning, SEO fixes |
| Data & Analytics | Messy reports, unclear metrics, poor insights | Dashboard rebuild, data cleanup, better KPIs |
| Cloud & IT | On-prem servers, security issues, backups | Cloud migration, IT policy refresh |
| Process Automation | Manual workflows, copy/paste tasks | No-code automation, integrated tools |
| CRM & Sales Tools | Disconnected customer data, pipeline confusion | CRM setup or optimization |
This mapping transforms abstract problems into actionable next steps.
Real Talk: You Don’t Need to Fix Everything at Once
Too often, business owners delay tech investments because they assume it requires an all-or-nothing overhaul. In reality, targeted fixes in one area often unlock momentum everywhere else.
Start with one small win. Show your team what’s possible. Build from there.
And if you need a strategic partner to help you triage, prioritize, and execute—I'm ready to step in.
-- Your Hidden CTO
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