Slides for a session at Little Rock Tech Fest 2016 http://davidyarde.com/speaking No matter the platform, useful programming requirements get lost in translation from client meetings, to project managers and finally as a to-do ticket. Sucking all the joy out of the development process and reducing things down to daily sprints, with the hopes of launching on time. There has to be a better way! Together we’ll take a look at effective ways of getting everyone on the same page, minimizing scope creep and having less stress when it comes time for product launch as well as how this helps to create a stronger foundation for business growth.

1. THE ART OF WORKING
WITH NON-DEVELOPERS
Finding Common Ground on the Road to Product Delivery
David Yarde
Sevenality

2. A LITTLE ABOUT ME…
David Yarde
Partner and Creative Director at Sevenality
Organizer for UX Orlando
Co-organizer for WordPress Orlando
Also referred to as Batman
Twitter: @dsmy
Youtube: davidyarde
E-mail: david@sevenality.com
Slides available at: www.sevenality.com/ideas

3. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST
BARRIER COMPANIES/TEAMS
FACE IN EFFECTIVELY
EXECUTING ON THEIR
ROADMAPS?
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4. MARKETING STRATEGY
BUDGETS RESOURCES PRICING
COMMUNICATION
PARTNERSHIPS TECHNOLOGY
PLANNING AWARENESS
ECONOMICS COLLABORATION
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5. COMMUNICATION
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6. HERE’S WHAT I’VE
LEARNED IN THE
PAST DECADE…
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7. WE AREN’T AS
RATIONAL AS WE
THINK WE ARE…
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8. AND WE’RE PRETTY
HORRIBLE AT
COMMUNICATING.
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9. A RECENT GALLUP POLL
SHOWED THAT 70% OF
U.S. EMPLOYEES ARE
NOT ENGAGED AT
WORK.
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10. ROUGHLY 80% OF PEOPLE
WORKING ON A PROJECT
HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEIR
PROJECT ALIGN WITH THEIR
COMPANY’S BUSINESS
STRATEGY.
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11. ON-BOARDING FOR
CONSISTENTLY
SUCCESSFUL RESULTS
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12. ON-BOARDING FOR CONSISTENTLY
SUCCESSFUL RESULTS
• Key #1: Initial team member orientation
• Key #2: New project orientation
• Key #3: New role orientation
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13. MINIMIZING PROJECT
SCOPE CREEP
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14. MAP OUT KEY CROSS-
DEPARMENT/TEAM
ACTIVITIES THEN DEFINE
NECESSARY DELIVERABLES AT
EACH STAGE FOR EACH TEAM.
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15. MINIMIZING PROJECT SCOPE CREEP
• Who needs information?
• What do they need?
• When do they need it?
• Who must provide it?
• How can it be optimally delivered?
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16. FEEDBACK IS USELESS
WITHOUT ACTION.
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17. FEEDBACK IS USELESS WITHOUT ACTION.
• Supply Chain: Identify weaknesses and
opportunities in your how your product or service
travels to market.
• Is there an area trust is being lost in the process
when the customer is interacting with your brand?
• Do you have the right process or vendors in place?
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18. THE LEADERS YOU
CHOOSE FOR YOUR
PROJECT CAN MAKE OR
BREAK ITS SUCCESS.
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19. AS LEADERS, WE’RE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
TONE AND ENERGY
OUTPUT DURING
PROJECTS.
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20. RESPONSIBILITY STARTS AT
THE TOP. IF YOUR TEAM
LEAD IS BAD, NO AMOUNT
OF TALENTED TEAM
MEMBERS WILL HELP.
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21. INCLUSION
INCREASES
ENGAGEMENT
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22. INCLUSION INCREASES ENGAGEMENT
KEEP IN MIND
Ideally, you want your team excited about,
bought into, and engaged with the product or
service being built.
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23. BE CONSCIOUS OF
YOUR ECOSYSTEM
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24. DIVIDE YOUR PROJECT
ROADMAP INTO EASILY
ACHIEVABLE GOALS AND
MILESTONES. IT’S GOOD
FOR MORALE.
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25. A TEAM WHO COMES TO WORK
WITH NO PASSION OR INTEREST
IN WHAT THEY’RE DEVELOPING
WILL NOT PERFORM AT ITS
HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL.
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26. PREVENTION IS
BETTER THAN THE
CURE.
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27. PREPARATION
PROTECTS AGAINST
CONFUSION.
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28. HAVE AN
ESCALATION
STRATEGY READY.
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29. THE PROBLEM WITH A SINGLE-MINDED FOCUS
ON PROCESSES AND METHODOLOGIES IS THAT
ONCE PEOPLE ARE GIVEN PROCEDURES TO
FOLLOW, COMPLIANCE REPLACES RESULTS.
EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW TO
DO THE JOB, NOT ABOUT THE OUTCOME IF
THE JOB IS DONE WELL.
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30. Tweet! @dsmy/@sevenality #lrtf
LEARN TO SAY
NO TO EGO.

31. “WE SEE OUR CUSTOMERS AS INVITED
GUESTS TO A PARTY, AND WE ARE THE
HOSTS. IT’S OUR JOB EVERY DAY TO
MAKE EVERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF
THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE A LITTLE
BIT BETTER.” - JEFF BEZOS, AMAZON
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32. TAKEAWAYS
• Be realistic
• Make sure everyone (including senior management)
understands their role and responsibilities
• Make sure team members communicate with each
other
• Don't be afraid to communicate bad news -- and
adjust expectations
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33. THANKS! QUESTIONS?
David Yarde
Partner and Creative Director at Sevenality
Organizer for UX Orlando
Co-organizer for WordPress Orlando
Also referred to as Batman
Twitter: @dsmy
Youtube: davidyarde
E-mail: david@sevenality.com
Slides available at: www.sevenality.com/ideas