Key learnings of 5 years in the field of intranet and digital workplace. Assembled by Philipp Rosenthal and Richard Gledhill, both Principals at Infocentric in Switzerland

1. GOLD DUST.
What we have learned from 5 years
digital workplace evolution…
Berlin, April 2014

2. Let’s talk about requirements,
tension, expectations and fluffy
handcuffs.
This is what we have learned from
success and failure…

3. BUT IT WON’T WORK WITHOUT IT!
flickr.com: http://goo.gl/V5x3si

4. IntraNET.Reloaded | Infocentric Gold Dust | Berlin, April 20144
It’s called “requirements engineering” for a reason.
From “this is what we need” to “this is what it should do”.
Joao Piedade (Sonae) made it clear in 2013
© Joao Piadade (@jp3dro), Sonae, IntraNET.Reloaded 2013

5. Hope
VS
Commitment

6. Excellence

7. Active Listening

8. IntraNET.Reloaded | Infocentric Gold Dust | Berlin, April 20148
Tangible value
Communication | Collaboration | Coordination | Combination

9. Facilitation
(make it easier…)
vs
Enablement
(make it possible)

10. 4 Angles to Requirement Engineering
IntraNET.Reloaded | Infocentric Gold Dust | Berlin, April 201410
Direction. Excellence. Language. Clarity.
A vision creates hope.
Putting the shortfalls and challenges
on the wall that you want to move
away from creates commitment.
If you progress,
ask yourself what is preventing
excellence.
In the process of connecting
business and IT you have to practice
active listening.
Make it clear where
change will add value:
Communication
Collaboration
Combination
Coordination

11. SOMETIMES BLACK AND WHITE
WILL REVEAL THE DETAIL.
flickr.com/photos/philippeller/8504355055/

12. EITHER – OR
(and the consequences)

13. OR

14. OR OR

16. Tensions Create Clarity.
• Find your benchmarks
• Move from the big picture to the detail
• Identify consequences and requirements deriving from your decisions
• Build the framework for a puzzle in which each tile can fulfil its purpose –
isolated and together with it’s connected pieces
• Create a foundation (aka library) that services as a reference to everything
that will come up on the way…then you won’t be starting from scratch all
the time
Consistency for the “where”, the “how” and the “for whom”

17. MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
flickr.com/photos/pierivb/5306873465/

18. The vision.
Covey says: Working with the end in mind.

19. Priorities
Covey says: First things first.

20. Role based value propositions
Covey says: Think Win/Win.

21. Managing Expectations.
• Turn a vision into a magnet that provides a general direction and ensures
that all things will fall into one place in the end – with enough flexibility
on the way to not always sit on tight rails
• Provide relief from business challenges and emotional challenges equally
– it’s not just about more money…sometimes it’s about motivation, fun
and commitment, too
• Make sure that everyone is able to answer the question “what’s in for
me?” – different roles have different needs
IntraNET.Reloaded | Infocentric Gold Dust | Berlin, April 201421
Make it easy for people to stay on board

22. CONSISTENCY
From flickr.com – and you don’t want the link to the rest of the pictures…

23. You can’t control
everything

24. Your system can’t
control everything

25. Governance can
add value for the
person being
constrained!

26. Clarity.

27. Governance as a Value Proposition.
• Governance is not made to hide in the closet. Set it out. Describe it. Make
it clear. Make the effort to get everyone on board!
• Governance does not just concern technology – it can concern
• User Experience Design
• Visual Design
• Interaction Design & Call-to-action
• Messaging & Tone of Voice
• …
• Governance can make it easier for everyone to reach a goal with
minimum effort and use a common foundation to deliver excellence
IntraNET.Reloaded | Infocentric Gold Dust | Berlin, April 201427
Knowing how it works is the best starting point.

28. IntraNET.Reloaded | Infocentric Gold Dust | Berlin, April 201428
Requirements create satisfactions.
Asking the right question will allow you to do things right the first time.
Summing up…
Tensions create clarity.
Being clear about what you aspire to achieve will allow you to understand implications.
Expectation management is strategic.
Loosing your stakeholders half way will make it a one way street – downhill.
Handcuffs can be fluffy.
Governance can create value for everyone. Seriously.

29. THANK YOU.
Infocentric Research AG
Stadtturmstrasse 10
CH-5400 Baden
t +41 56 210 01 20
f +41 56 210 01 21
infocentricresearch.com