Robby on Rails: Information Anxiety and Solutionsthoughts.sort_by{|t| t[:topic]}.collect tag:www.robbyonrails.com,2005:TypoTypo2006-09-05T22:12:48-04:00Robby Russellurn:uuid:d986db40-fac8-4daa-bef9-695aa82754422006-08-22T13:15:00-04:002006-09-05T22:12:48-04:00Information Anxiety and Solutions<p>Last week, <a href="http://www.allisbe.com">Allison</a> brought me in a copy of a book that she owns by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Saul_Wurman">Richard Saul Wurman</a>. In 1976, Wurman coined the phrase, <em>information architect</em>. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_architecture">read more</a>)</p>
<p>In his book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0789724103/102-0824021-1378541">Information Anxiety 2</a>, Wurman discusses how we’re overwhelmed by too much information… amongst other related topics.</p>
<p>Allison bookmarked a page for me that discusses the problem with developing solutions without a good understanding of the problem.</p>
<blockquote>
“Before any solutions to any undertaking can be developed, a movement must begin to discover its beginning. Understanding the vein of the problem is the course to solving it. The best way to accomplish any endeavor is to determine its essential purpose, its most basic mission. What is the endeavor supposed to accomplish? What is the reason for embarking upon it? This is where the solution lies.”
<br /><br />
- Richard Saul Wurman, Information Anxiety 2
</blockquote>
<p>Wurman then goes on to suggest, <em>“There are two parts to solving any problem: What you want to accomplish, and how you want to do it. Even the most creative people attach issues by leaping over what they want to do and going on to how they will do it. There are many how’s but only one what.”</em></p>
<p><strong>There are many how’s but only one what</strong></p>
<p><em>“You must always ask the question, “What is?” before you ask the question “How to?”“</em></p>
<p>When <a href="http://blog.brightredglow.com">Brian</a> and I began rethinking <em>how</em> we were extracting information from our clients, it was important to understand <em>why</em> we felt it was necessary. We’re convinced that the more we can enhance our <a href="http://blog.brightredglow.com/articles/2006/08/22/patterns-of-dialogue">patterns of dialogue</a> with our clients, the more confidence we’ll have in our approach to building solutions that provide them with that they <em>need</em>, not just what they <em>think they need</em> (want).</p>
<p>Next time a client brings you a list of features for their product, please be sure to ask yourself and your client, <em>“why”</em> the product needs them. What are these <em>hows</em> providing their business and user goals?</p><p>Last week, <a href="http://www.allisbe.com">Allison</a> brought me in a copy of a book that she owns by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Saul_Wurman">Richard Saul Wurman</a>. In 1976, Wurman coined the phrase, <em>information architect</em>. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_architecture">read more</a>)</p>
<p>In his book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0789724103/102-0824021-1378541">Information Anxiety 2</a>, Wurman discusses how we’re overwhelmed by too much information… amongst other related topics.</p>
<p>Allison bookmarked a page for me that discusses the problem with developing solutions without a good understanding of the problem.</p>
<blockquote>
“Before any solutions to any undertaking can be developed, a movement must begin to discover its beginning. Understanding the vein of the problem is the course to solving it. The best way to accomplish any endeavor is to determine its essential purpose, its most basic mission. What is the endeavor supposed to accomplish? What is the reason for embarking upon it? This is where the solution lies.”
<br /><br />
- Richard Saul Wurman, Information Anxiety 2
</blockquote>
<p>Wurman then goes on to suggest, <em>“There are two parts to solving any problem: What you want to accomplish, and how you want to do it. Even the most creative people attach issues by leaping over what they want to do and going on to how they will do it. There are many how’s but only one what.”</em></p>
<p><strong>There are many how’s but only one what</strong></p>
<p><em>“You must always ask the question, “What is?” before you ask the question “How to?”“</em></p>
<p>When <a href="http://blog.brightredglow.com">Brian</a> and I began rethinking <em>how</em> we were extracting information from our clients, it was important to understand <em>why</em> we felt it was necessary. We’re convinced that the more we can enhance our <a href="http://blog.brightredglow.com/articles/2006/08/22/patterns-of-dialogue">patterns of dialogue</a> with our clients, the more confidence we’ll have in our approach to building solutions that provide them with that they <em>need</em>, not just what they <em>think they need</em> (want).</p>
<p>Next time a client brings you a list of features for their product, please be sure to ask yourself and your client, <em>“why”</em> the product needs them. What are these <em>hows</em> providing their business and user goals?</p>
brastenurn:uuid:b706f9b9-f56c-4f59-8cf5-5b2e24fcb5c02006-08-22T15:10:16-04:002006-09-05T22:12:54-04:00Comment on Information Anxiety and Solutions by brasten<p>It’s also important to express to the client the long-term impact of their needs in relation to any possible gain.</p>
<p>I’m sure we all have projects that haunt us, and one of mine happened for that reason. The business side was unwilling to express maintenance concerns the developers (us) were having over a particular feature. That feature, while solving a legitimate business need, has cost that client more time and money in maintenance than it was ever worth.</p>
<p>This is one advantage a company like PLANET ARGON can provide… directly dealing with the people who are writing the code gives clients a great deal of protection.</p>