Many people ask: What do you do Susan?
Susan's standard answer: "I'm a geek".
Which suffices for many... but then there is my wonderful Dad.
Boiling it down into a very simple statement sometimes is difficult
(especially when explaining it to people who really despise the
computer, like my Dad).
"Dad... I figure out what to do with "digital stuff".... 1's and 0's".
Which is quickly followed by a "Huh"?
I try to explain: "Dad, If you were a business: I'd ask you what do you
have, what do you do with it, and why does it matter?" Essentially why
do you do what you do, How do you do it, What do you do it with, how do
your competitors do it better.... and then in the end Explain: Why does it matter?"
Followed by another quizzical look.....
"Dad, I am in part a researcher, an analyst and.... and.... I am kind
like a glob of glue....that holds it together. I listen to the client, then understand the
business context of different kinds of
(sometimes very diverse) information: why it was created, how it's
currently being used to create value (if any) and
understanding the inherent future value of that information in your
business context."
"Hmm-mm, so why does that create value?" (Bottom line mentality of my
Dad)
Note: Oh goodness... If I can't explain it to my Dad... then I
must need remedial communication classes.
"Dad, I'm also a kind of information firefighter meets fire code
inspector, meets... well you get the picture .... in an information risk
perspective.... After figuring out the Who, What, Why and Where, I then
examine and apply the risks associated with different kinds
of information: the risk of losing, of not having it available, of
inadvertently allowing to leak outside the organization, etc. and how
it will affect you then how can we provide people, processes or
technology to mitigate that risk back into an acceptable level."
Dad: "OK so you are a firefighter.... I kind of get that.... but what
exactly do you do with the information to create value, besides
mitigating risk to acceptable levels"?
Me (realizing my audience and being patient): "Dad, if you understand the opportunity associated with unlocking
additional value of existing, and future information gathered, (that could be correlating it
in new directions, presenting to new parts of the business, or using it
to create a new untapped revenue stream in the business, mitigating substantial risk) THAT is value
added.
This is followed by an emphatic series of hand waving, scribbles on a
white board, any available piece of scrap paper, or if none of the above
are available.. I always have a pencil, so then... on the top of my
laptop.
So I ask myself.. trying to make my scribbles mean something in my head before going back to scribbling: "What does
technology do for you?" I understand the potential of what technology
can do.... and often wonder if people & businesses truly
understand exactly why they utilize technology in the first place?
However, many businesses don't completely understand what information
they have, why it is important, how to use it best, and how to protect
it? Let alone what risk exposure it causes their business.
I=Information (which we seem to have forgotten: Data is our product)
which is enabled by T=Technology. I+T= IT----> Information Technology
We gather, store, analyze and provide information... remember? Getting
the right information to the right people at the right time in your
business so the "Profit Center" can make better decisions which then
effect your bottom line.
Digest...Digest... Digest... and....
"Dad, think of me as a architect on a house... why these discussions (load bearing walls) are important to
have...but I don't get wrapped into the minutiae of building that wrestles with the color of the (load bearing) walls (usually... but sometimes)."
As I always say: We need to create it with fit, form and function clearly understood and in the front of our mind.
Dad: "And the glop of glue thing"?
Me: "Well I speak geek and business so I translate business into klingon :) I'm the conduit.... the glop of glue..."
Dad: "That sounds like a good thing... but you might need to come up with another analogy... that's kind of gross"... LOL
I research, analyze and understand exactly how a technology is used to
support different business processes, the risks associated with
mishandling or misusing technology, the people and the technology
associated with that risk. How the current state technology could be
enhanced, through searching and correlating with other types of
information, maybe about customers for the business..... Then articulate
in clear business terms exactly why this technology (or its
replacement) is important to this business, and not just an individual
business function.
Then I plant the SME (Subject Matter Expert) seeds: (The A'ha moment Giving
SME technologists direction on how to think about potential
technological applications from a business perspective, then how to
evaluate various approaches to that technology in a larger context with
added business value..... ) So I guess Im an Architect AND a Farmer :) (Note: I always wanted to be a farmer... slow food :)
Think my business= Figuring out the puzzle pieces of: People, business
& processes then creating effective, efficient technology to
streamline business and increase your bottom line.
That Dad is what I do....Plus a couple other things.... Love you.
