1. IT and the Evil Empire (Business)
Friends or enemies?
Kevin & Hilary Wilkie

2. You tell us…
In your experience, how would you describe the relationship between IT & the Business? How does that relationship affect getting things accomplished?
H – Record and engage answers

3. Kevin Wilkie 15+ years experience with SQL Server
Blogger at SherpaOfData.com
Held many titles, such as:
SQL Developer
Production DBA
BI Associate
BizTalk Integration Architect
Performance Tuning Specialist
Data Warehouse Architect K
@Oskaruth

4. Hilary Wilkie 12+ years as a Business Analyst
AutoVIN, an Adesa company
Six Sigma Black Belt
Specialties:
Eliciting & Writing Software Requirements
Process Analysis and Redesign
Training Facilitation 
LinkedIn:

5. How Most View the Relationship
Most view the relationship as adversarial & Frustrating
Reasons for this
The typical IT professional thinks differently than the Business operations person
IT is Logic and routine focused – bigger picture – solutions focused
It thinks of problems as if then statements
Business is often customer and event focused. Often they are caught in the day to day and are unabe to pull back to look at the big picture
To break through these divides there are some strategies that work really well and we promise if you employ these (in more scenarios than just with the business) it will help you be more successful!
Story about Paul Fichiera and the Reading Between the Political Lines

6. Rules of Engagement #1 Speak Their Language K
Make sure you don’t talk in complete technical jargon because it goes over their head and make sure you talk down to their level H
GASP!!! Oh no he didn’t! Did he just build a Wall or a Bridge with the business?
He is right – don’t talk in too much technical jargon
The important part here is that you can’t assume that you are the smartest in the room (prize)
You have more knowledge than they do on the database but I guarantee that they know something you don’t about the operations.
You are equals – so equalize the conversation. Help them understand you

7. Understand Their Motivations
Rules of Engagement #2
Understand Their Motivations K
You have to remember that IT is usually run more efficient and more organized than the business who is reactive H
Well, there is truth to that. Especially those that are Agile. However, the business sees IT as rigid and not able to react as business needs arise. Remember, the business is pressured by different business needs. It is important to lean into and understand what is behind the request versus the request itself. Cut a weed and it grows but if you pull the weed and the roots, it doesn’t grow back… get to the root of the ask and understand what is behind it.

8. Know Their Measuring Stick
Rules of Engagement #3
Know Their Measuring Stick H
We all know that IT peeps are measured on the speed of a process, the burn down, the number of lines of code and then blame the business for all the bad data! K
Stop – True – lines of code in Now we are measured on many other things. The business doesn’t know or understand your measuring stick. But you can make a huge impact by understanding theirs. Ask them? Moreover, ask their managers. Try to understand how their management is evaluating their skills and value. You might find that it is in how well and fast they react to the business’s immediate needs…. Your number of backups in a set time period means nothing to them when they have a client that is having a major issue.

9. Rules of Engagement #4 Who Do They Know? K
Who do they no. Heck I don’t know. I don’t want to know who they know. I like my dark area with 2 and 3 monitors! (office space reference prize) H
What you know is never as important as who you know. This plays big in with the business ops world. We have all known that one business person that gets his or her way all the time because when they get an answer from you they don’t like they run up the ladder.
It is extremely important to know who is related to who. Who hangs out with who. Who goes to lunch with who. Who is dating who…. Yep, that is big! You are more careful what you say and you can work that to your advantage.
Story of the VP’s sister in law working the front desk

10. Rules of Engagement #5 Socialize with Them H
IT is very elitist and cliquish. They either don’t come out from behind their screens or they only go out with each other. K
Thomco example
The benefit to breaking the segregation laws is that the business sees you as an ally and resource. It builds trust and comradery. helps break down political and personal barriers. Plus.. It can be fun

11. Rules of Engagement #6 Remember they aren’t stupid K
Above all what makes for the best success for your role is to create a relationship with the operations. Treat them as peers with different skills, abilities and motivations. You aren’t smarter then they are – you are more experienced in an area or two… even if you really do think they are stupid…. Don’t treat them that way. They will sense it and will not trust or respect you.

12. It Is All About the Relationship
More Credibility & Leverage
Trust
Confidence
Relationship H
Relationship for the operations goes beyond the transactions in business. It is more personal. For many IT people this can feel trite and a waste of precious time. But the investment of time over time will lead to greater strides for everyone. It doesn’t mean the operations will always get their way, but they will trust you more because they will feel like you do understand where they are coming from. When you have to say no or disagree it is more respected and less argued. (or at least the argument is minimalized from what it would have been)
Bridges not walls!

13. Stories

14. Connect with Us https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwilkie/ @Oskaruth
@WilkieFam5