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Recently, I served on a panel at an IT conference. The topic of the panel discussion was “Bridging the Communication Gap Between Business and Technology in the Workplace”. The panelists represented three distinct areas of the market. One panelist was VP of IT for a company in the construction industry. His IT staff is relatively small. The other panelist was SVP of Enterprise Data Services for a very large financial institution. She manages a large staff of 70+ people. Then there was me – the President of a “Boutique” Business Management Consulting firm, who works with clients of all sizes and in various industries. So as you see – the panel was very diverse, which allowed us to examine the issue from many points of view.

Of course, we covered the basics like business to technology collaboration in strategy & roadmap development, ensuring alignment and inclusion, and creating a comprehensive communication strategy. All of which the panel agreed are essential to “bridging the communication gap”.

Additionally, however, a lot of key points were made around the area of “seeking to understand”. What does that entail? Seeking to understand is simply asking questions, actively listening and clarifying answers to ensure a mutual understanding. These basic actions are referred to as “Elicitation” or “Soft” skills, which are traditionally associated with Analysts, but when it comes to successful communication, we’re all Analysts!

Let’s break this down further using a simple non-IT example, like building a new single-family housing community. Building the single-family housing community is the high-level strategic objective. Applicable parties [inclusion], collaborate to round out the strategic vision. Then the plans are communicated to participants of the project.

Let’s say you’re the architect on the project, and you’re working with a potential buyer of one of the homes to be built. Your objective is to “seek to understand” the potential buyers needs and desires for their new home. Through “elicitation”, you’ll ask the buyer a series of questions to help determine the type of house you’re architecting.

The first set of questions might include:

What style of home – Craftsman, Ranch, Bungalow, etc.?
Single- or multi-level?
How many bedrooms? Bathrooms?
Open floor plan?
Desired square footage?
Basement, crawl-space or slab?
Etc.
After a few interviews, you, the architect should have elicited enough information to draw-up an initial plan, which is presented back to the potential buyer to ensure mutual understanding of the buyers needs and desires for their new home. “Elicitation” is an iterative process that takes place at each phase of the project to continuously maintain a mutual understanding.

The concept is the same regardless of industry, and there are many “elicitation” techniques. We “seek to understand” to define the project scope, understand the genesis of a new request, or peel back the layers to determine the root cause of an issue. We then review our findings, our understanding, with the requestor (client/stakeholder/business partner) to ensure we’re aligned and in agreement on the success criteria.

For some, “elicitation” skills come naturally, and others find it outside their comfort zone. For those of us that fall in the latter category, you’ll be thrilled to know that these skills can be learned! This whole notion of “seeking to understand” using “elicitation” or “soft” skills is such a critical component in bridging the communication gap between business and IT, that companies like Bridging the Gap have developed an entire curriculum designed to teach us to find ways around obstacles that deal with political agendas, communication, collaboration and attitudes.

Whether you’re in IT or the Business, and regardless of your role, an Analyst, Architect, Product Owner or Developer, you too are responsible for building a relationship of trust with your colleagues, on both sides of the isle, and ensuring the message being communicated is mutually understood.

Seeking to Understand. iSeek is adept at using “Elicitation”, “Soft” skills and various other approaches to facilitate customer-focused solutions and bridging the communication gap between business and technology. To find out more about our tools and techniques, subscribe to our blog and stay tuned for future insights, or call or e-mail us today!

Business challenges, particularly those involving change, can cripple even the most successful enterprise. In an effort to make smart decisions, many CEOs and boards of directors grapple with how to navigate complex situations. One approach in particular is growing in popularity: hiring professional interim executives – often through management consulting firms – to bridge existing gaps in knowledge, skills, and leadership.

What Traits Should an Interim Executive Have?

While they vary widely in skills and abilities, the best interim executives have a few traits in common – they are dynamic and proven problem-solvers who get things done. Whether you’re experiencing a reorganization, an acquisition, or another pressing challenge, the ideal candidate has the skills, personality, and energy to help transform obstacles into opportunities.

Avoid This Common Mistake

A common mistake is to approach the interim executive search as a temp-to-hire situation. While it may work in some cases, an individual seeking a permanent position may have different priorities than a professional interim. Unlike executives hired for the long haul, the interim comes onboard to address an immediate but temporary need. In most cases, a decision has been made that requires leadership from an expert well versed in a particular area, such as change or crisis management.

So if someone has the required skills, what’s the difference? In our experience and others’, the professional interim may be less influenced by company politics, obsolete policies, and personal considerations that could affect his or her future in the organization. By definition, these experts expect and desire to share knowledge, transition leadership to another individual (or team), and basically “work themselves out of a job.” This introduces a degree of objectivity that could ultimately be the key to your success.

Can an interim executive help you through challenging times? Read this article in Fortune magazine for additional insights. To learn how iSeek can help your company overcome difficult challenges, call or e-mail us today!

Have you noticed how executives tend to set company direction and then try to mold existing employees to fit the required roles? Have you also noticed how often those companies need to reorganize? The reason is simple: they’re getting it backwards!

Think of your company as a bus and your highest executive as the driver. Using that analogy, leadership expert Jim Collins makes this observation: “Leaders of companies that go from good to great start not with “where” but with “who.” They start by getting the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats.”

So How Do I Begin?
When facing any business challenge, remember these simple truths before you map out a direction:

1) If the people on the bus came along because they like the stated destination, what happens when you need to change your plans? Will they resist the change and become unproductive? Invite people on the bus who simply want to work with the other great people aboard. That will contribute to a more pleasant and successful trip!
2) If the right people are on the bus, there’s no need for elaborate motivational schemes. The right people are self-motivated and expect to produce exceptional results.
3) If the wrong people are on the bus, nothing else you do matters. You might head in the right direction, but the success you seek will elude you. The right vision with the wrong people produces mediocre results, at best.

Want more information? I highly recommend Jim Collins’ informative video series. To find out how iSeek can help you organize for success, contact us today! If you like this blog post, please share and subscribe!

Today’s business challenges aren’t getting any easier. Markets are complicated, competition is fierce, and technology is constantly changing. An expert management consultant can help you navigate rough waters, but how do you find the right one for your needs? Here are some basic traits to look for in your ideal match.

Ability to Listen

Your initial few minutes with a consultant can be very telling. Observe their ability to listen and understand your unique objectives, issues, and pain points. The ideal candidate will elicit communication, extrapolate key obstacles, and encourage collaboration among staff, peers, and executive leadership. This process will help get to the root of your challenges before problem-solving even begins.

Creative Problem-Solving Skills

It’s often easier to diagnose a problem than it is to truly solve it. The best consultants can describe how they’ve applied creative thinking to solve issues similar to yours. Candidates should be able to clearly articulate how they approach a variety of challenges and design innovative, pragmatic solutions that advance their clients’ business goals.

Values that Reflect Your Enterprise

As in any profession, management consultants have a wide range of business and personal values. When you bring in an expert from outside your company, you’ll want to make sure they embody the traits you admire. Do they value quality of service as much as the bottom line? Do they take employee satisfaction seriously? Talk to their references and read between the lines as they describe their role in previous engagements. It should soon become clear whether you would be proud to have this person set an example for your staff.

Excellent Interpersonal Skills

The best consultants not only solve problems, but also communicate effectively, build relationships, and maintain trust. Make sure you will feel comfortable discussing confidential information about your business with every candidate. Also consider whether your staff will relate well to their approach and disposition. These relationships can significantly impact the success of your engagement, and ultimately, your organization’s future.

To learn more about the qualities of a great management consultant, I recommend this article in ConsultingFact.com. To find out if iSeek is the match you’re looking for, call or e-mail us today!

The role of the business solutions architect is emerging as a critical force in the transformation of today’s enterprise. If the term is new to you, you’re probably wondering what it means and how such an expert can move your business forward. Let’s explore.

WHAT DOES A BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT DO?
A business solutions architect, also known as a business architect, works with organizational executives to develop structures, processes, and technology plans for continuous improvement within an enterprise. Responsibilities may include:

Analyze the effectiveness of existing organizational structures, systems, and workflows
Create business capability maps that model what your business will do to reach its objectives
Work closely with the IT organization to ensure technology aligns with business strategy
Help determine whether to insource or outsource a capability, or whether to undertake a specific investment or acquisition
Provide risk assessments and compliance recommendations
Identify cost reduction and revenue-generation opportunities
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE NEEDED?
So why is it important to view this role as both an art and a science? According to Computer Weekly, “Business architects have a rare combination of business domain knowledge, process experience, transformation talents, methodology skills, and a winning personality that helps with communication and business change management.”

Sound like a tall order? It can be! Add that to the fact the position is often best suited to someone looking for a limited-term commitment. That’s why more businesses are choosing to hire an experienced consultant to help them navigate 21st century business imperatives.

Want to know more? Sources such as the Architectures Center of Excellence serve as a hub for information and collaboration to advance this growing profession.

Can your business benefit from a business solutions architect? E-mail or call us and let’s discuss! If you like this post, please let us know, subscribe and share using the buttons below!

Business imperatives can become urgent quickly, tempting decision-makers to chase the latest hardware or software they believe will accelerate their success. However, after years of piecing together disparate devices and applications, savvy executives understand that adding technology for its own sake will not grow your organization. When deployed haphazardly, even the latest technical innovations can impede your progress.

The bottom line is, you cannot meet business goals through technology alone. Instead, you need a carefully planned strategy that aligns the right technology with your business goals and objectives. In an era of increasing competition, strained budgets, and high customer expectations, aligning strategy and technology is vital to today’s enterprise.

Benefits of Alignment

The goal of aligning business processes with carefully chosen technology is to optimize and build on the value of each. An organization with a thoughtfully crafted alignment plan enjoys:

· Streamlined workflows resulting from the implementation of appropriate and complementary technologies.

· Strong working relationships between IT-focused employees, product and services specialists, and other staff.

· Innovative solutions that heighten productivity, increase efficiency, and improve business workflows across all departments.

· Support from key company executives for further implementation of technology solutions

· Company-wide appreciation and support for how technology contributes to the success of the company.

Developing Your Plan

When aligning your business processes with new or updated technology solutions, ensure that your plan includes these critical elements:

· Have a detailed understanding of all your business processes and workflows.

· Discuss and decide on your organization’s technology imperatives, as well as a “wish list.”

· Scour the market for interoperable technologies with the potential to optimize resources.

· Develop a technology vision and mission that will help you meet your business goals.

· Set conditions and measurements that will determine when alignment goals are met.

Cloud Computing

One of today’s biggest technology drivers – and greatest business challenges – is the escalation of cloud-based services. Employees expect the same easy access to data at the office as they have on their smartphones and tablets. Unfortunately, budgets are limited and expenses must be justified. That’s why it’s important to clearly articulate the business opportunities afforded by hosted services, interoperable applications, and data mobility. This article in Forbes magazine online offers interesting information about benefits, risks, and other considerations related to aligning business and IT in the age of cloud computing.

After Your Alignment

Once you’ve achieved alignment, don’t just sit back! It is important to reevaluate your alignment strategy at least once a year, and any time the company reorganizes or changes course. Remaining in alignment can make the difference between realizing your organization’s potential or falling behind due to negligence.

At iSeek Solutions, we specialize in guiding companies through the business strategy / technology alignment process. Regardless of your industry, whether corporate or nonprofit, our staff has the experience and expertise to conduct an evaluation, make recommendations, and work closely with your employees throughout the process. Let us know if we can help!

Annie Allen is President and CEO at iSeek Solutions, Inc.

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