Your teams are clashing over upgrade expectations. How can you bridge the IT-business gap?
When your IT and business teams have different expectations for upgrades, it's crucial to find common ground and ensure smooth collaboration. Here's how you can bridge the gap:
How have you managed differing upgrade expectations in your organization?
Your teams are clashing over upgrade expectations. How can you bridge the IT-business gap?
When your IT and business teams have different expectations for upgrades, it's crucial to find common ground and ensure smooth collaboration. Here's how you can bridge the gap:
How have you managed differing upgrade expectations in your organization?
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To bridge the gap between IT and business teams, clear communication and shared goals are key. One way is to hold joint meetings where both teams discuss their needs. For example, a retail store upgrading its billing system faced pushback from staff worried about delays. By letting them test the system early, IT made sure the transition was smooth. When both sides understand the benefits, teamwork improves.
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1. Facilitate joint discussions: Encourage collaboration between IT and business teams regularly. 2. Align priorities: Ensure both teams understand each other’s goals and constraints. 3. Set clear expectations: Define scope, timeline, and deliverables for mutual understanding. 4. Create transparency: Share progress updates and feedback to maintain alignment throughout.
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I have a great example on this topic. One of my acquaintances who is a great Solution Architect came up with a smart way to transfer data between multiple apps using a middleware application. The challenge was explaining it to stakeholders without losing them in technical jargon. So, instead of just talking about it, he used simple visuals, analogies, and a quick demo to show how it actually works. That made all the difference—everyone got on board quickly, and the idea took off.
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The business analyst role would generally be the one that bridges between business and IT teams. There are formal processes to align expectations and manage the requirements for a smooth transition
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Bridging the IT-business gap starts with clear communication and shared understanding. Facilitate joint workshops to align technical capabilities with business needs. Use visual roadmaps and data-driven insights to set realistic expectations. Encourage iterative feedback loops, ensuring both teams feel heard and valued. When IT and business teams collaborate on defining priorities, upgrades become strategic, not contentious.