Decoding Digital Business Methodology
Understanding the nuances of Digital Business Methodology (DBM) has emerged as a critical factor for businesses striving to adapt and thrive amidst constant technological advancements. One clear point we've learned in the Collider Convos is that the focus is on the user when solving an issue for a client in the digital landscape.
"Digital business at a very high level is about trying to put your customer or user first and trying to understand if you are trying to add value to that particular end user, whether the software is a product, a platform, or a service," states Ganesh Raj Mohan Parimelazhagan.
Ganesh, an esteemed practitioner at Altimetrik, provides invaluable insights and perspectives, shedding light on the key principles of DBM and its practical implications for modern businesses.
Hosts Jacob and Rhyan had a profound discussion with Ganesh about putting users in the front seat to approach problems with DBM. This approach makes digital solutions much more effective by focusing on what you should deliver to the end user.
Ganesh outlines the essence of digital transformation, emphasizing its continuous and adaptive nature. He underscores the challenges of maintaining critical software applications over time, stressing the need to align technological solutions with the ever-evolving needs of users and the market.
So, how does this DBM actually work?
Looking Under the Hood of Digital Business Methodology
To more clearly understand what DBM looks like in practice, Ganesh outlines four critical methods that differentiate digital business from other schools of thought.
Identify Scenarios
Identifying scenarios addresses the simple question of understanding where the user stands when trying to complete an activity.
"At the end of the day, you are trying to address a very specific user scenario that will take them through or help them complete an activity or a task for themselves," explains Ganesh.
2. Simplify the User's Activity
The way to simplify any activity is to understand the user's events. This answers the question of what user events are available as a part of the scenario to complete that activity.
3. Break User Events Into Workflows
By breaking user events into workflows, Ganesh aims to ensure that each segment receives a tailored experience that aligns with their individual preferences and objectives. This process typically involves user segmentation, workflow design, task prioritization, and feedback integration.
4. Make the Workflows Serviceable
Ganesh highlights the critical importance of establishing a reliable and centralized source of information to facilitate self-serviceable workflows.
Ensuring that the right single source of truth is readily accessible to users is essential for enabling seamless and efficient workflow automation. By centralizing the content and data necessary for executing various tasks, businesses can empower users to access and utilize required information independently, reducing their reliance on manual interventions.
Additionally, Ganesh emphasizes the need to associate service-level agreements (SLAs) with these workflows, setting predefined performance and response times standards. Organizations can effectively streamline workflow automation and ensure consistent service delivery by defining specific SLAs, such as a 24-hour response time, enhancing overall operational efficiency and user satisfaction.
On Being a Practitioner
DBM might be clear and sound simple, but applying DBM is a whole different ball game. You want to count on real practitioners with real DBM experience.
"You need people who know the business, who understand the nitty-gritty of it,” says Ganesh.
Taking business into the digital business frontier requires a thorough understanding of different technologies and systems, stresses Ganesh.
“You need people who understand software. You need people who understand quality engineering. You need people who understand site reliability engineering,” states Ganesh. “So it's actually a mix of multiple skills that you need, which needs to come through as a part of the team to deliver this."
Ganesh's discourse on the role of practitioners within the digital business landscape sheds light on the pivotal contribution of experts in addressing complex business challenges. He underscores the significance of cultivating a pool of skilled practitioners within organizations, highlighting their role as problem-solvers with the expertise to navigate multifaceted business scenarios effectively.
Practitioners are not mere executors but seasoned problem-solvers capable of comprehensively addressing complex business challenges.
DBM vs. Digital Transformation
Although many of us have heard and have some understanding of the term digital transformation, Ganesh makes it clear that DBM and digital transformation are not one and the same.
According to our interviewed practitioner, digital transformation is the process of updating and adapting software systems to accommodate changes in technology, user needs, and business requirements.
"What is digital transformation? See, today, in 2023, I start writing software. And what happens? We use the technologies currently available, the current version of technologies,” Ganesh illustrates. “And when you start writing very critical software, say, for a banking industry or for an insurance industry, you end up writing critical business logic inside the software. And when this starts in 2024, there could be a different version. 2025, there could be a different version.”
Whereas digital transformation takes an iterative approach, Ganesh suggests that DBM uses a more focused and comprehensive approach to developing and implementing software solutions by catering to the needs of end users.
When creating a software solution, DBM considers various elements such as business dynamics, user requirements, and technological aspects. The methodology emphasizes the importance of delivering value to end users through bite-sized outcomes that can be quickly tested and refined.
"We normally get into this whole bite-sized thing as a part of the methodology very specifically because we want to deliver outcomes fast,” says Ganesh. “This is a digital business, where we put the end-user on the front, and we want to focus on a bite-sized outcome that you can first deliver to the end user and see their reaction. And this methodology also tells you what kind of systems you need to orchestrate to scale this to multiple users".
The Power of DBM
The importance of grasping DBM cannot be overstated. It's a fundamental shift in our approach to problem-solving, where the user takes center stage. As Ganesh emphasizes, DBM is all about adding value to the end user, whether it's through software, a platform, or a service. It's about understanding their needs, their journey, and simplifying their activities.
In essence, DBM is proactive, focusing on user-centric design, agile development, and seamless integration within an organization. It's a methodology that drives innovation, fosters agility, and ultimately places user satisfaction at the forefront. As businesses seek to master the digital landscape, DBM is a tool for success and growth in an ever-evolving digital world.
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