Separating Problems from Software in Technology-Based ConversationsPeter Ellis, MSIMInfoCamp SeattleOctober 10, 2009

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You’re talking about a problem with the company’s ability to locate documents. The company, as a Microsoft shop, has at its disposal a license for Microsoft SharePoint 2007 Enterprise Edition. You begin to discuss how the problem might be solved with SharePoint, since this will reduce the IT department’s grumblings about the plan and they were planning on installing it anyway.Twitter: peterellis | me@petercellis.com | Peter Ellis, MSIM

What’s the problem?Twitter: peterellis | me@petercellis.com | Peter Ellis, MSIM

Why bother separating the two?Clarity of definitionsAbility to ensure that you actually solve the problemNeed to be able to define scopeSanityTwitter: peterellis | me@petercellis.com | Peter Ellis, MSIM

Clarity of definitions

Ability to ensure that you actually solve the problem

Need to be able to define scope

Sanity

“We needtoshoveitoutthedoornow!”Great, but.. Really? You sure about that? Is it defined?Is it scoped? Does pushing it out damage our reputation?Twitter: peterellis | me@petercellis.com | Peter Ellis, MSIM

Technology is a medium. If you don’t know the problem, if you don’t define scope….Twitter: peterellis | me@petercellis.com | Peter Ellis, MSIM

…how do you know what technology you need?Twitter: peterellis | me@petercellis.com | Peter Ellis, MSIM

ORTwitter: peterellis | me@petercellis.com | Peter Ellis, MSIM

So how do you do this?Look at the long-term impactDialog about the specific problem being attacked. Ask why.Ask questions intended to attack the problemThinking about the technology is not bad, it’s distracting at the wrong timesTwitter: peterellis | me@petercellis.com | Peter Ellis, MSIM

Look at the long-term impact

Dialog about the specific problem being attacked. Ask why.

Ask questions intended to attack the problem

Thinking about the technology is not bad, it’s distracting at the wrong times

THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALLTHERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALLTHERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALLTHERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALLTHERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALLTHERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALLTHERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALLTHERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALLTwitter: peterellis | me@petercellis.com | Peter Ellis, MSIM

Now it’s your turn. Let’s talk.Twitter: peterellis | me@petercellis.com | Peter Ellis, MSIM