Schrödinger's IA: Learning to Love Ambiguity

Schrödinger’s IALearning to love ambiguity

Kerry-Anne Gilowey | IA Summit | Baltimore | 7 April 2013

#SchrodingersIA | @kerry_anne

Sowhat’snext?

Here’s what I’dLIKE to say:

I’m going to drive home from this meeting.

Then I’m going to have a little think.

I’m going to write things on bits on paper.

I’m going to have another little think.

I’m going to sleep on it.

And then it’ll be tomorrow, and we’ll see.

But then there’s what I actually

say.

I’m going to...

Why does this happen?

Uncertainty is uncomfortable.

We feel under pressure.

So we map out a personal methodology.

And we use it over and over.

We choose a route.

And we stick to it.

We don’t want to beseen as inconsistent.

So what’s the problem?

We look for answers

before we understand

the questions.

We make decisions too early.

We ignore things wecan’t make fit.

We keep going throughthe motions.

We end up solvingthe wrong problem.

Ambiguity tolerance

Dead or alive? Who knows?

Embrace ambiguity.

A positive leadership

trait.

“If a man will begin with

certainties, he shall end in

doubts; but if he will be

content to begin with doubts,

he shall end in certainties.”- Francis Bacon

(The Advancement of Learning)

In practice

Start fresh with every project.

Avoid fall-back methodologies.

Less dogma, more principle.

Principle Dogma>

Nothing should beset in stone.

Leave room for changing direction.

Discovery is not a phase.

X

Discovery is not a phase.

X

- Leisa Reichelt

(Strategic User Experience, Confab London

2013)

But at some point, it allcomes together.

What about our clients?

Yes. That’s the tricky

part.

They have reports to complete.

They have no idea what to expect.

They’re concerned about ROI.

They’re scared.

1. Be honest.

2. Be confident.

3. Communicate early and often.

4. Stay calm. It’s contagious.

5. Have a healthy fear of commitment.

6. Collaborate.

7. Commit to the work, not the

deliverables.

A few ideas

“When both the client and dev team

aren't hung up on getting the design

locked down through an early sign-

off, it gives the design a chance to

evolve into something a bit more

prepared to survive in the real

world.” - Dennis Kardys

(A More Flexible Workflow)

Thank you!Kerry-Anne Gilowey

Independent Content Strategy

Consultant

@kerry_anne

kerryanne@augustsun.co.za

Kerry-Anne Gilowey | IA Summit | Baltimore | 7 April 2013

• Slide 6: Chris Campbell - http://www.flickr.com/photos/cgc/ (CC-licensed)• Slide 19: quinn.anya - http://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/ (CC-licensed)• Slide 21: Horia Varlan - http://www.flickr.com/photos/horiavarlan/ (CC-licensed)• Slide 22: Ian Kershaw - http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonboots/ (CC-licensed)• Slide 27: Old Shoe Woman - http://www.flickr.com/photos/judybaxter/ (CC-licensed)• Slide 31: baralbion - http://www.flickr.com/photos/baralbion/ (CC-licensed)• Slide 32: Cyol Ternyan. - http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyol/ (CC-licensed)• Slide 43: Leisa Reichelt - http://www.slideshare.net/leisa/ (Used with permission)• Slide 44: RangerRick - http://www.flickr.com/photos/rangerrick/ (CC-licensed)• Slide 47: delphwynd - http://www.flickr.com/photos/delphwynd/ (CC-licensed)• Slide 50: Paolo Margari - http://www.flickr.com/photos/paolomargari/ (CC-licensed)• Slides 5, 7, 13, 16, 17, 23, 38, 39, 48, 49: http://www.capetownstockphotos.com/ (Used by permission)

All other images are either personal photos, or legally purchased stock photography.