Back to Basics: Deep Dive Part 1
Understanding the customer’s business as deep as possible.
In my first project, which failed due to overshooting its budget 5 times, I was a junior C++ developer. For the experience, I’ve volunteered to help train end users. On the first day of training, a system bug featured by displaying the wrong status. A very outspoken, user asked to speak, and on his turn exclaimed: “You guys have just killed a man!!”.
Not understanding and somewhat annoyed at the brashness, we urged for an explanation. His answer was: “Because of the wrong status, the tower will radio the inspection officer to get under the train for inspection, whilst the real status is that the train will still be moving – thus, crushing a man under its cargo.”
As he said this, I realised that had the developers known this, much more care would have been taken to ensure it works 100%. Although this example is primarily aimed at software developers, it applies to all disciplines.
"The more the professional fundamentally understands the business and cares about it, the more insight the professional will have and the more diligence and attention to detail will be given by the professional."
Thus, as an analyst, if you are close to the business, meaning you fundamentally understand how it works, and you really want to help them improve, you have the best chance of success. The primary job of the analyst is to design the changed business process and the system that accompanies it in order to solve a business problem or goal.
So, how can you even start doing this if you do not fundamentally understand your customer’s business?
When you stay shallow, things are simple and straightforward. When you dive deep and practically understand how things work in the business, that is when the complications and exceptions to the rule surface.
It does take more time, and great wisdom must be applied where is deep enough for the phase the project is in.
WARNING: It is tempting to stay superficial and not delve deep. To go deep is hard work. A lazy analyst will stay shallow.
For more info you can download the whitepaper from https://jalia.co.za/services/
Author: Henk Maritz (jalia.co.za)
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