How vs. Why

“How” and “what” are very flexible. “Why” rarely is. Partner around the why.

Some things don’t change.

In data projects where you are working with business stakeholders, the how and what are often very flexible.

How should this solution be built?

What are the elements that should be included in this dashboard?

How should the metric be designed?

What technology should we use?

If you focus your relationship, requirements, and communication with the business around the “how” and “what” you will often face resistance, confusion, and frustration.

Instead, partner with the business around the “why”.

There is a business objective that led the business team to come looking for data.

And that “why” is rarely going to change.

Aim to understand the why, and your path to success becomes much more flexible.

But, focusing on the why, requires asking business questions. Not data questions.

It requires business literacy. Not data literacy.

It requires empathy. Not transactional relationship.

Get clear on what doesn’t change. And you will have a lot more fun with the things that do change.

I’m here,

Sawyer

from The Data Shop​

p.s. Scope creep primarily shows up when you partner around the “what” and “how”.