Force field analysis is a good way to analyse the constraints and the drivers of success when leading change, delivering projects or problem solving in general. You begin by writing your objective on the top of a sheet of paper and then putting a long line under it: Next, draw a line down the middle… Continue reading How to use force field analysis
Category: Investigation
One the other hand, your question compass is better
I have my own favourite set of questions to ask at the beginning of any assignment or project. I call this my “question compass” because the questions help me to find my way at the ambiguous beginning of most of my projects. People often write the questions down when I explain them, so I assume… Continue reading One the other hand, your question compass is better
On the one hand, I always ask the same questions
I have always believed that a good business analyst will be able to work on any project because he or she will ask good questions. At the same time though I have always believed that different projects need different approaches and therefore potentially different skills. Which begs the question - should our approach to starting… Continue reading On the one hand, I always ask the same questions
Stealing ideas from Stand Back and Deliver
I am running an “advanced BA course” next week and as part of the course we will be exploring the concept of strategy from a business analysts point of view. One of the trainers I work with (Shane) recommended we provide the participants with a book called “Stand Back and Deliver” by Pollyanna Pixton, Niel… Continue reading Stealing ideas from Stand Back and Deliver
Understanding the background to power in a group
To really understand any team, it is important to understand the distribution of power within the group and how that power is exercised. Similarly, in order to understand the challenges of implementing change in a group, it is useful to understand what impact that change will have on the power within the group. Some of… Continue reading Understanding the background to power in a group
The 7-S framework (+2) for evaluating change readiness
I recently explained the “Arenas of Change” approach that I often use to understand a team and its environment. So I thought it might be a good time to discuss another approach that I often use - the 7-S framework developed by McKinsey Consulting. For a proper explanation of the approach and its use and background, it… Continue reading The 7-S framework (+2) for evaluating change readiness
The Arenas of Change for assessing change readiness
To communicate effectively, you should align your message to your audience. And to drive effective change, you should align your change to the drivers and constraints faced by those you are planning to impact. But, as I discuss in a long-winded recent article, that is easier said than done. And unfortunately my solution here is… Continue reading The Arenas of Change for assessing change readiness
Bad logic. Some common fallacies
I was talking about assessing documents (and statements) to see whether they are “logical”. Critics of “logical communication” will quite rightly make the point that a document can be logical, but boring, irrelevant and completely un-compelling. This is true and I should get to talking about it soon. But before I do I wanted to… Continue reading Bad logic. Some common fallacies
Assessing the logic of a whole document
In my last article (“Is that logical?”) I discussed a way to test the logic of a statement. But a document filled with logical statements can still be gobbledegook if the statements are not linked together logically. So how can we assess the overall logic of a document? The first step is to look at… Continue reading Assessing the logic of a whole document
Is that logical?
(Editors note – this is not the article I promised to write on “Arenas of Change” – I got distracted by the wondrous world of logic). I promised a class that I would write something on “The Arenas of Change”, which is a theory about how teams interpret reality. The theory is based on the… Continue reading Is that logical?
James King 