FreeLists / webproducers / [webproducers] requirements/discovering clients needs etc

[morry <morry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On that note I think it's our responsibility as producers/project
managers to help our clients articulate or discover what they want/need.
If clients walk in with an RFP with a list of their functional and
technical specifications in many ways they have skipped this function.
This usually happens in big organizations who hire consultants to tell
them what they need or with an internal development department or other
department that understands the technical aspect.

One way to actually help you client and you to discover what is needed
is by asking questions about what outcomes they want. What I mean is try
to avoid talking in technical speak. Don't even think about technical
functionality. Take a step back and find out what benefits they want not
features. For example if we were talking about phones not websites (bare
with me it's just a simple example) and you client wanted a phone and
said they had no idea what kind you could ask them questions. You could
find out what they are actually doing during the day. You might find out
they use the phone for business and they need to make 40 calls per hour
and at the end of each hour they need to call into a voice mail system
to input data.  Using this information you would then figure well rotary
dial is out because it takes too long to dial, pulse dial is out because
it won't be compatible with the voice mail system. Now you will propose
a touch tone phone because it meets their needs.  Now after you ask more
questions you may find it's better to propose a phone with a headset and
maybe a phone with a re-dial button. Then when you give them the budget
or they tell you theirs you realize that you have to scale back.

I know this may seem oversimplified but it's really the best way to
approach it.  Ask the right questions to find out what benefits they
want from the system, match the benefits they want with a solution you
think will meet their needs but you won't be able to get there without
discovering their needs. Some clients don't want to go through the
"discovery" process and others want to be involved in every step of the
process. You have to figure out a way that balances what you need to
know with their willingness and time to input.

Morry

>
>

__________________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe send a blank message with unsubscribe in the subject to 
webproducers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

To access our webform (instead of sending e-mail) for popular commands 
including subscribe, unsubscribe, digest, and vacation  visit  
www.WebProducers.org. You can also access the list archive at the website.

Questions and comments are welcome just e-mail me, morry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx