I love jazz. As a young boy moving from rural South Carolina to New Orleans in the early 80s, I had not really appreciated the genre, but in New Orleans it’s easy to fall in love with it since it has made itself part of our DNA (as an early style of the genre was born here.) The other day I start musing about API Management and began connecting some of the concepts between these two different things that I wanted to share.
Out of One, Many
Music has, of course, had been around for a long before jazz emerged and the same can be said of APIs relative to API management. APIs are not a new concept but the way they’re being used today and the management capabilities emerging from the myriad of use cases and products (both open source and proprietary) are helping to foster an incredibly creative and vibrant environment for developers. Exposing capabilities through APIs, analyzing their use, and building a community around them are all plainly understood components that are coming together to form a strong foundation for this transformative opportunity.
An Innovative Movement
Jazz emerged as an innovative form of music and many aspects of the genre carry that innovative spirit over today as musicians experiment with new techniques, styles, and ways to use their instruments. In today’s API economy the same holds true. By exposing APIs and allowing developers and partners access to different capabilities unique to your business, you’re allowing them the creative freedom to stretch boundaries and come up with new and interesting ways to use those capabilities. As Jeff Perry says in his article on jazz and innovation “By allowing freedom, balanced by rules, guidelines and values, the culture necessary for innovation may be possible for you to attain.”
Striking the Right Note
Many forms of jazz have developed since it emerged as the form is interpreted and re-interpreted by each generation of musicians. As you take the first step to develop your API strategy, from that moment when you ask yourself “What will the API do?” and “Who is this API for?” the journey will lead you to developing your unique perspective on what you have to offer in the digital economy. By investing in the time to ask and answer the core questions you will be able to set up a solid API program and forge a strategy to take your company into the future as a digital business.
Conclusion
Jazz music is appreciated all over the world. Though it came humble beginnings, it ignited something in the hearts of the people who enjoyed it and the musicians who embraced it. Do you have a “jazz culture” relative to your API strategy? Is there something about your company or business that is unique and you want to share with people to create that innovative transformation that many companies are undertaking today? Is it something that you think could capture the hearts and minds of developers, partners, and ultimately customers? By exploring these topics and embracing the API economy you’ll be on your way to make some beautiful music.
References
“Jazz & Innovation: How the Jazz Culture Fosters Creativity” by Jeff Perry, http://www.allaboutjazz.com/jazz-and-innovation-how-the-jazz-culture-fosters-creativity-by-jeff-perry.php?page=1
