Dialogue Five: Considering Alternative Solutions

Dialogue Five: Considering Alternative Solutions

There are always alternative solutions. Are you getting them?

Time pressures make it easy to dive in and solve a problem without seeking alternatives. The result is we often get a solution that may work, but is not the best one suited to our needs. We may take on something that contains risks that are inappropriate for the current business climate. We may use a technology with limited capacity to scale up (that is, grow in small increments). It is important that the technology not only actually solves a problem or achieves an opportunity, but that it also fit your business environment.

In addition, we often hear the lament that business types do not understand or have the time it takes to learn technology jargon. Our observation is that the communication problem runs a little deeper. It is this: Technology people seem to be obsessed with the technology itself, they are enamored with how something is made, as opposed to what in business terms, the resulting product yields. A discussion of alternatives, should require justification of the solution in business terms (costs, reliability, legality, risk, timeframe to implement, etc.) when compared to other options.

A weighted decision model that allows you to set out an ideal before exploring alternatives is a very useful device.

Consider this conversation:

John: Okay, boss: Here's my recommendation to solve the distribution problem we discussed last week.

Boss: Why is this your recommendation?

John: Because it's the best way to do it.

Boss: What other ways did you consider?

John: Well, I really didn't consider other options.

Boss: Then it's kind of hard to know that this one is the best, isn't it?

Bottom line: It is always easier to convince someone of a path to take if you can show them what is down other pathways.

The dialogue should focus on how to generate, evaluate, and present alternative solutions to solve a business problem with technology.

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ENKI, Inc. offers IT solutions: Computer training and consulting on site or at our site, customized to meet our clients requirements. Our IT training and consulting services include: Project Management, Systems Analysis and Development, Web to Client Server Application Development, Database Design and Development, and Desktop Applications. Enki, Inc. is located in Baltimore Maryland.