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I gave this talk at IA Summit in Baltimore in April 2013. At the start of a project, not only do we not know the answers yet, we don’t even truly know which questions to ask. And yet straight away we’re asked to provide project plans and timelines, to list and describe our deliverables, and to outline the exact steps we intend to take. So, to avoid the discomfort of not having immediate answers, we map out a methodology for ourselves and apply it to every subsequent project. But this approach doesn’t serve our clients well. We make decisions too early, and end up solving the wrong problems. We keep going through the motions even when we realise we’re heading down the wrong path, because we don’t want to be seen as inconsistent.
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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
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.
