Battling Bureaucracy Paul Boag

who am I?

who am I?

who am I?

and you?designerdeveloperproject managerotherdepartment? (marketing/IT)

workshop?Discussion basedQuestions & interactionEvery situation is uniqueWe will share our experiences

battlingbureaucracy

Departmental feudsUninformed decisionsCommittee mentalityAn internal perspectiveScope creepProblem peopleSlow progress...

battlingbureaucracy

Getting signoffScope creep and slippagePolitics and problem peoplePerception and reputation

gettingsignoff

Techniques for signoff?Who makes decisions?Process drivenUser focusedDealing with feedbackThe homepage battle

Who makes decisions?Avoid a committeeAvoid on the fly compromiseBut do collaborateUse stakeholder interviewsReporting backThe need for authority

Process drivenExplain the process upfrontRequirement gatheringLOTS of input during processShow, don’t sayPresent backed with evidence

e.g. the design process

User focusedAvoid personal opinionWhat would users think?Use personasDesign testing

Dealing with feedbackProblems not solutionsAlways ask whyIndividual feedbackAlways include user feedbackReport back

The homepage battleThe changing roleAvoid rushing inCommunicate simplicity

and slippagescope creep

Your techniques?Have a project structureSet expectationsDefine participants roleInternal charging

Project structureStatement of workMilestones (you and client)Client signoff

Set expectationsHow the process worksWhat they will see whenHow decisions are made

Their roleWhat you expect from themFocus on objectivesFocus on usersProvide contentIdentify problems not solutions

Internal chargingPrevents scope creepIncreases perceived valueBeyond your control?Track effortEquate effort to costReport to management

problem peoplepolitics

How do you cope?Accept itKeep talkingAvoid confrontationEmpathise

Accept itPolitics exists everywhereYou cannot ‘rise above it’You cannot control othersBe patientFind supporters(internal and external)

Keep talkingAvoid departmental dividesUse stakeholder meetingsde-brief from projectsEstablish regular meetings

Avoid confrontationNever say noExplain consequencesPraise positive commentsDon’t become defensiveAllow others to defend you

EmpathiseKnow peoples painIdentify key influencersShow not tell

how you areperceived

How do you gain respectBe confidentBe the expertCommunicate successes

Be confidentbut don’t be arrogantrespect others skillsbe enthusiasticbe positive

Be the expertbe willing to challengequote expertsadmit your limitswork with experts

communicate successeslaunch eventsnewslettersfeedback to managementde-brief with stakeholdersoffering trainingworkshops

conclusionsGetting signoffThe decision structureProcess drivenUser focusedDealing with feedbackThe homepage battle

Scope creep and slippageHave a project structureSet expectationsDefine participants roleInternal charging

Politics and problem peopleAccept itKeep talkingAvoid confrontationEmpathise

How you are perceivedBe confidentBe the expertCommunicate successes

final questionsthese slides: headscape.co.uk/iwmw/

website owners manual: boagworld.com/websiteownersmanual