stage 2 :: agree outcomes

step 2 :: agree outcomes

If asked, most people will describe what they want as opposed to what they need; this confusion can lead to the wrong solution and therefore differentiation is essential.

Once the issues are defined, it’s possible to ask "what would you rather have happen?" These represent the outcomes that should ideally be expressed in business terms rather than a technical solution and can be executed in one or more ways.

A well formed outcome is one that satisfies certain reality tests. Outcomes which aren’t well formed are usually difficult or even impossible to achieve. These are essential in defining your business requirements. In fact, they are (or should be) the requirements that form the foundation of the specification.

All too often one hears "we need a database / piece of software / faster communications" as proposed outcomes. They’re not. They are solutions to an (undefined) outcome.

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