Operational Guiding Principles: For Success
We value these guiding principles for accomplishing our mission, and will use them to guide all of our working relationships and how we interact with others.
THINK WIN / WIN -- CREATE THE CONDITION FOR UNDERSTANDING MUTUAL GOALS (VV 1,3,7)
- Work together to understand each other’s needs.
- When we offer solutions that help each other do a better job we contribute to creating success for all of us.
- Identify IT solutions by viewing the business need through the customer’s eyes.
LISTEN FIRST, TALK SECOND, MANAGE BY FACTS -- CREATE THE CONDITION FOR MAKING GOOD DECISIONS (VV 2,5)
- Ask about expectations before guessing what they are.
- Keep the white elephant on the table – admit to the brutal facts - and work toward success.
- Ask how things are going formally and informally without trying to convince each other that they are going great when the facts tell us otherwise.
- Build trust with the truth and work together through the good times and the challenges.
TRUST BUT VERIFY -- CREATE THE CONDITION FOR VALUING AND ADDRESSING SUCCESS CRITIERA (VV 5,6,7)
- Expect success. Expect high quality deliverables. Demonstrate high standards for performance.
- Celebrate success. Appreciate the Phase Gate/Major Milestone Review Sign-off at the conclusion of each project phase.
- If you lack understanding, don’t guess or assume - ask a question. After all, who’s smarter: the guy who asks a “dumb question” early or the ill-informed one who proudly marches off a cliff?
REMEMBER: “A DOLLAR IS A DOLLAR” -- CREATE THE CONDITION FOR SOUND FISCAL MANAGEMENT (VV 6,8)
- Work to set realistic expectations for costs and what exactly demonstrates business value.
- Demonstrate fiscal responsibility with all funding sources. Would they spend it as you would?
- Budget wisely and thoroughly while ensuring that cost estimates are accurate and supportable.
FIRST DO NO DAMAGE -- CREATE THE CONDITION TO BALANCE INNOVATION WITH MINDING THE STORE (VV 5,8)
- Don’t turn the business process upside down without a very good reason – but don’t leave it broken if it’s clearly yours to fix.
- Don’t stop the production line without a very good reason – but don’t ignore it if it’s not working.
- Work at not breaking the will of the stakeholders – encourage them while challenging them and give them what they need to contribute to our mutual success.
WHATEVER IT TAKES -- CREATE THE CONDITION WHERE WE EACH BELIEVE NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE (VV 3,4,5,6)
- Never say never. Avoid “can’t.” Look for ways to say “yes” instead of “no.” But, be willing to say, “no” when customer wants do not equate to justifiable business needs.
- Don’t task each other to do beyond our reasonable limits.
- Work at making the project a reality that others will relish.
- Work with a sense of urgency to ensure we meet our end user needs.