building a digital roadmap
TRANSCRIPT
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Matt Tonak Web Marketing Technology Manager
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
We are a custom software design and
development company
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Use the questions panel in the GoToMeeting app
Send us an email at [email protected]
Tweet with the #nerderywebinar hashtag
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
All registered viewers will receive a link to the full recording later this week
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Story Time
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Hi.I’m Steve.
▪ Machinist
▪ Data Acquisition Systems Guy
▪ Systems Engineer
▪ Project Manager
▪ Solutions Architect
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
What we’ll talk about
1 2 3 4
Replacing fear with confidence
Know when to say yes and how to say no to scope creep
Making in-flight decisions informed by long-term planning
How to speed approval of projects and get to market faster
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
What’s the Problem?
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
How do you know you have a problem?
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Top issues
People
(training & retention)
Process
(reporting & process automation)
Profits
(cost of staff & production)
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Are those even software problems?
▪ Automation of processes (training, reporting)
▪ Correlating information between different sources
▪ Manual recording of compliance
▪ Old internal software – is your green screen holding you back?
▪ Aging software product
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
You are being judged.It isn’t fair. But it is true.
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
You must act
Because your software does many things, but it is also the thing holding you back.
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
It is normal to be worried.
Your system is too important for
downtime
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
It is normal to be worried.
Your software isn’t making you money directly
Your system is too important for
downtime
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
It is normal to be worried.
Change is hardYour software
isn’t making you money directly
Your system is too important for
downtime
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Sounds bleak.
What do we do?
▪ Make a plan
▪ Not too much plan
▪ Just the right plan
▪ A Roadmap
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Some Principles
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Tasks OutcomesLimiting Creative
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Feelings MetricsImportant, but don’t help us
define results.Let us know when we’ve won!
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Epic Mega-project
Actionable Steps
No. Just no. Add value all along the way.
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Outcomes Metrics Actionable Steps
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Outcome Engineering
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery26
Individual sessions
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Framing• Your current system is a prototype
• Future, not past
• Outcomes not methods
Pro tip:
“This thing sucks” is
never helpful feedback.
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Listen
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery29
Organize your results• Outcomes
• Metrics
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Reflect it back
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Managing Needed Changes
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery32
Managing Less Needed Changes
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Biggest Impact
Prioritization
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Prioritization
Biggest Impact Pre-requisites and dependent tasks
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Prioritization
Biggest Impact Pre-requisites and dependent tasks
Schedule Constraints
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Prioritization
Biggest Impact Pre-requisites and dependent tasks
Schedule Constraints Cost Constraints
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
A timeline is not a schedule
This is still a recommendation, not a project plan. (We don’t have funding yet.)
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
6/12/15
38
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
6/12/15
39
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
6/12/15
40
All those things together
That’s what makes a roadmap.
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
What just happened?
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
What have you done?
▪ Listened
▪ Organized
▪ Researched
▪ Prioritized
▪ Documented
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
What did you get?
You know ▪ Outcomes
▪ What success is
▪ Where to start
You have ▪ Controlled schedule
▪ Controlled budget
▪ Planned ROI
▪ Limited scope creep
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
▪ At least the decision was informed
Approval
▪ You’re prepared to do the right steps, minimize rework later
No-Go
Go
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Cliffhanger
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery46
The Power of Confidence
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Q & A
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery
Thank you for attending
More answers online at nerdery.com
Check your inbox for full recording later this week
Topic Suggestions or questions? [email protected]
#nerderywebinar @the_nerdery