Relationships as a pillar of Success: Business Intelligence and Technical Excellence Foundations

Introduction

In the intricate world of Business Intelligence (BI) and Information Technology (IT), the unsung hero of success is often the establishment of positive and reciprocal relationships with stakeholders. Bridging the gap between the technical and non-technical people can be challenging, but effective leadership can find common ground and serve as a mediator and mentor. In the quest for success, someone within the team, ideally in a leadership role, should champion the development of these vital relationships with the wider organization. This article explores the transformative impact of fostering respectful stakeholder relationships between technical teams and our peers, leading to not only enhanced technical products but also the elevation of the BI and technical team as leaders within the organization.

The Key to Adoption and Support

In the ever-evolving landscape of BI and IT, the ability to engage stakeholders within their comfort zone is paramount. It transcends even the development of the most perfect BI products. Without the support of these key stakeholders, BI products risk falling flat, causing frustration among users and the BI team. This, in turn, leads to products that do not meet our peers’ needs resulting in underutilized products and a questioning of BI's, or other technical role’s, value. Therefore, the cultivation of respectful stakeholder relationships is critical for both successful creation, adoption and ongoing support for technical initiatives.

Unlocking the Path to Success

Enhancing Communication and Collaboration: Respectful relationships are the bedrock of effective communication and collaboration. When stakeholders feel valued, they engage in productive discussions, essential for creating BI products that align with evolving business needs.  They will also provide constructive feedback, which is necessary at time because even the best of us get things wrong.

Trust and Credibility: Trust is the cornerstone of successful partnerships. By establishing these relationships, BI and IT teams earn the trust and credibility necessary for stakeholders to have faith in the provided insights. As an example, A BI team can do this by showing the business their data and where the discrepancies, if there are any, are.  I mean physically showing them the data in SSMS or whatever other data system you are using.  In my experience there are four common ways in which there are discrepancies in between what the stakeholder expects to see and what we see.

1.       The system simply is not being used – data is not being input

2.       The system us not being used as expected or designed – or a business process is not being used

3.       The business rules do not align – perhaps we are looking at average staff turnover over the last month where they are looking at it over the last two weeks.

4.       Lastly, and less common where I am working, the technical team is making a mistake; however, because our systems are complicated, this is usually a mistake of omission as opposed to a mistake in the code. 

This trust underpins the reliability of BI products, making them dependable. However, it's essential to be prepared for increased trust, which naturally leads to more responsibilities for the BI team.

Tailored Solutions Through Understanding: Positive relationships lead to a profound understanding of stakeholder needs. This insight empowers BI and IT teams to customize their BI products, creating more effective solutions that directly contribute to business success.

Facilitating Effective Problem Solving: Challenges are inevitable, but respectful relationships guide stakeholders toward constructive problem-solving rather than assigning blame. This approach benefits project implementation and positions the technical team as a leader within the organization, offering valuable solutions.

One example of doing this was when I, as a tech leader, brought together all of the necessarily leadership in the organisation in order to bring a new service online. My organisation was not used to breaking down silos so it was a tough challenge to get everyone in the same room. An additional challenge was that we needed to get everyone to care about data and the use of their applications to collect and manage data. I did this by showing the stakeholders why we needed clean data. They new their data would be visible across the organisation so they were motivated to get this part right.

Alignment with Business Goals: BI and IT initiatives aim to drive business success. Positive relationships can help align with organisational goals, ensuring BI products focus on initiatives that provide the most value to the business.

A Culture of Innovation and Adaptation: A culture of respect nurtures an environment where stakeholders readily embrace innovation and adapt to change. BI and IT teams can confidently introduce novel technologies and strategies, creating innovative technical products that keep the organization ahead of the curve.

Forging Long-Term Partnerships: Respectful relationships extend beyond individual projects to build enduring partnerships. Engaged stakeholders continue to collaborate with BI and IT teams, fostering ongoing improvement and nurturing a data-driven organizational culture.

Risk Mitigation Through Vigilance: Respectful relationships play a vital role in risk mitigation. Stakeholders who trust and respect BI and IT teams are more likely to report data security or compliance issues promptly, preventing significant breaches and regulatory challenges.

Conclusion

In the evolving landscape of BI and IT, the cultivation of respectful relationships with stakeholders stands as a crucial determinant of success. These relationships enhance communication, build trust, align with business goals, and foster a culture of innovation. Moreover, they empower the BI team to address challenges effectively and position themselves as leaders within the organization. As technology continues to advance, and data remains central to decision-making, the value of these relationships becomes even more pronounced. In essence, the path to BI and IT leadership lies in the foundation of respect for stakeholders and their invaluable contributions, extending the benefits beyond data and technology into the heart of the organization.