A skeuomorph is a derivative object that retains ornamental design cues (attributes) from structures that were necessary in the original. A dated example is a floppy disk serving as the ‘save’ icon on a computer screen even after primary storage transitioned to USB flash drives and the cloud.

What are skeuomorphs in your enterprise? How do they benefit or hold back the organization? A private investment bank I know uses roll-top desks in the partner’s room despite the move to more modern office decor throughout the rest of the building. Computers, cloud storage, and wireless forms of communication are mixed with slots for sorting written correspondence, ink wells, and deep filing drawers. The roll-top desk for the bank is a reminder of its heritage as a merchant shipping company and maritime history.