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New Post 7/29/2008 4:24 AM
User is offline Craig Brown
560 posts
www.betterprojects.net
4th Level Poster




Handling conflict betwen the business and technology teams 

How do you handle conflict in the team, in particular between tech and business people?

There are several approaches.  They each suit different types of problems.

So the first step is in defining the problem.  Is it the same problem that you are all disagreeing over?  In most cases the issue will be a misunderstanding and clarifying definitions will deal with the conflict.

In the cases where there really is underlying conflict consider the following;

  • Will one side of the argument defer a win this round to build up credits with the other side later?
  • Can the conflict be solved by a mutual problem solving approach?
  • Is there a viable compromise available?
  • Is the conflict caused by unclear role definition or by unclear project goals?

 

 

 

 

(You might lso like to read my blog post on the related topic of making sure your business requriements are valuable at Better Projects.)

 

 
New Post 7/29/2008 7:52 AM
User is offline sonavi
37 posts
9th Level Poster


Re: Handling conflict betwen the business and technology teams 

Thank you all for answering my questions, but i think I still need more insight on this topic. Let me give a scenario and may be then i can get more information about the topic.

The project which i have been working on was to enhance the existing system. For example XYZ bank  currently maintains information of corporate accounts and provides credit risk analysis on corporate accounts. The business wanted the system to be able to do the credit risk analysis of individual customers account.  To accomplish this task I did reverse engineering on the existing system by analysing the data, the business logic behind the credit risk analysis so that the same thing could be done for individual customers. While the analysis, and coding was done, during the testing phase we found out that the existing system has some defects and it is not pulling the data from where it is suppose to be doing and no one has found this defect untill now. Now the question is what should we do. 

Should we go ahead and rectify the defect what we found in the existing system ?( This will require more analysis on the existing system and will require more time and we will not be able to meet the deadline of the future project)

So the main question is how do you handle a situation where in you find some defect later in the process and you are in a situation where in ;you have to decide on Quality, deadline, cost

Thanks

sonavi

 

 
New Post 7/29/2008 8:14 AM
User is offline Guy Beauchamp
257 posts
www.smart-ba.com
5th Level Poster




Re: Handling conflict betwen the business and technology teams 

Hi Sonavi,

To decide on what to compromise on (quality, dealine, cost) then you are going to need to know how the success of this project will be measured and the target values that equate to success. You say the "business wanted the system to be able to do the credit risk analysis of individual customers account" - why? What benefit is there to this? More customers? Lower risk loans?

Once you know which (or both or others) define the values that the business would agree means that the project can be defined as successful. For example 10% more customers, 20% reduction in loan defaulters, and so on. These are the project benefits and may have (should have!) already been defined.

Once you know the benefits, make an assessment of whether you can compromise quality and still get the benefits, or keep the dealines and still get the benefits or increase costs and still have a positive business case (over simplification: benefits minus costs).

Sometimes you can combine factors (lose a bit of quality and spend a bit more and take a bit more time) but sometimes you run up against constraints that mean you can't change these factors any further - e.g legal restrictions when calculating loans means that the quality cannot be cut back to a point where you can't demonstrate compliance with the law.

By the way, make sure that all who have the authority to directly or indirectly stop the project agree what the benefits are!

Hope that helps.

Guy

 
New Post 7/29/2008 9:03 AM
User is offline sonavi
37 posts
9th Level Poster


Impact Analysis 

Hi Guy

Thank you for your insight. Correct me if i am wrong, so in this particualr situation one has to do impact analysis to decide on what is more important?

Lets say that you have analysed the situation and the impact that will make on the business, and after analysing you decided to extend your deadline then what would be your approach to explain the situation to the business people?

I have one more question which I think i have read the answer in the interview questions but if anyone can please give me example situations that would be more helpful. What are the difficulties you have faced while gathering the requirements?

Thanks

Sonavi

 
New Post 7/29/2008 9:43 AM
User is offline Guy Beauchamp
257 posts
www.smart-ba.com
5th Level Poster




Re: Impact Analysis 

Hi Sonavi,

If possible I would collate the impact analysis facts and present to the business and other sponsors (technical people?) to let them make the decision about which option is best ('best' is defined as which option delivers the most in terms of business benefits). It is their project and they should make the decision as they are the sponsors (people who can authorise the project to proceed).

If the business and other sponsors make the decision then explaining the situation to them becomes rather easy!

I hope that makes sense and helps!

Guy

 
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