Yes, very much this. I always found that it was critical for me to walk/live/breathe with my users to design the best software for them. Whether it's shadowing

Yes, very much this. I always found that it was critical for me to walk/live/breathe with my users to design the best software for them. Whether it's shadowing the parts warehouse guys while they do inventory counts in a supply chain management system or getting to know the chief compliance officer and chief counsel while designing a regulatory system for them that's mandated by the SEC, their experience as human beings relayed to me as users of my software was invaluable. It's all about the empathy one has for one's users and how you use that information to take care of them. They will love you if you are successful in doing that.