The Prologue
In the beginning, no one really knows what they truly need. We call it the discovery phase when business domain knowledge clashes with the solution design mindset. We discuss the business aspects and random technical capabilities that may or may not be relevant to a given case. You start questioning the reason for this initiative, and you might be right.
At the end of a few cycles, there are no tangible outcomes. All you’ve got is a vague path forward. Further guessing won’t move the needle, so you transition to building stuff.
Moving the Needle
Get ready, as you will encounter several forks in the road and dead ends, including:
- Cool technical capabilities that are not applicable to your use case.
- An awkward user interface that presents some data of unknown value.
- Data from legacy systems that is integrated and visualized in a new way.
- The list goes on and on.
But what if you are stubborn enough to continue? What can you expect further down the road besides more wasted time and money?
I’m so glad that you’ve asked, cause we are finally getting to the stage that will provide the actual outcomes for you! Why is that the case, you asked? Why did all of the above take so long to pass by?
You can find the answer in the first paragraph: “In the beginning, no one really knows what they truly need." The reality is that it takes time to brainstorm various (random) ideas, build a few demos, and explore the business domain. The more experienced the team, the shorter the time that exploration takes, but it still requires time.
Show me the value - I’m done with paying for your exploration!
First of all, it’s not “mine exploration” but “our exploration”. It means that at this moment, you have already improved your understanding of your business needs and feasible ways to fulfil them. Your path forward is no longer as vague as it used to be at the very beginning. Sure, the entire expedition is in front of you, but you’re equipped with the map and a few useful tools to keep you on track.
Secondly, the journey we have just started puts you in a very comfortable position. You OWN the idea and the solution. The upcoming development will further strengthen your standing. All of a sudden, you own the entire stack; you have the freedom to choose (and replace) your vendors; every subsequent iteration will provide more business value than the previous one.
Hold on! How can it be true that every subsequent iteration will provide more business value than the previous one?
The Magic of Solid Foundations
That is the magic of solid foundations (or the framework, as we prefer to call it in the IT world). All that random exploration, all those failed experiments, all of that invested time and money lead you to this moment.
You can innovate not only in the technical field but also in business operations. Pieces of the scattered puzzle slowly fall into their places. That is the most satisfying state to operate in.
What’s Next?
What about me? I guided you to this point and empowered you to continue this journey further on your own terms. I would be honored if you decided to proceed together, but leaving me behind would not put your business development at risk.
That is not a science fiction novel. It has happened several times before, and I do hope it will continue to be true in the future.
What is the “call to action”? Everything worthwhile takes time. Taking shortcuts won’t push your cause forward in any meaningful way.
Enjoy your journey!
PS. Feel free to call me if you could use a helping hand from the guide who’s done it before.