Document Required Outputs
How will we communicate our insight?
Previously, we drilled into the preparatory steps necessary to understand: why the investigation was to be conducted; constraints on solutions; documentation of assumptions; and the 'who', 'when' and 'how much' for the investigation. We shall now start to drill-out to identify the outputs for the investigation.
When aspirations and resources are aligned, the serious business to determine how results should be presented to the decision makers can commence. At ERA-Persides, we know that outputs from the investigation must summarise the results in a way that is pertinent to the Problem as seen by the decision makers and any chain of communication that leads from the investigator to the decision makers. This reduces the risk that the insight will 'fall on stony ground'; thus making the investigation nugatory.
The key is to understand and agree the report objects that will be used to communicate the insight revealed by the investigation and their sequence in the report(s); in broad terms:
- What will graphs look like - in terms of axes and formats,
- What will tables contain - column sequences and formats,
- What sections of explanatory text will be required - content and formats?
Simplistically: graphs are fundamental to provide a summary of the insights gained by the investigation - 'one picture is worth one-thousand words'; tables provide the detail behind the graphs; and text sets the scene, connects the objects and explains caveats, of which there may be some of great significance to interpretation of the output.
Along the path to agree outputs, there may be merit in the creation of dummy reports that contain place-holders for the objects listed above; as illustrated below. As more is revealed by an investigation, the appropriate content for the report(s) is likely to change so accept that the content and formats may be fluid but, generally, the originally agreed graphs will still be required.
Please share how you identify the outputs necessary for an investigation.