Collaboration has to start and be constantly maintained with open and meaningful communication amongst all participants and stakeholders. This is critical to the success of all business transformation, software development & information technology projects, especially in fast-moving environments and with multi-disciplinary teams.

How can you optimize communication to increase the value of the collaboration and improve performance and project outcomes?

• Understand your business colleagues and Customers, and make sure that they understand you.
• Avoid unnecessary jargon. If you do use technical or domain-specific terms, make sure that everyone knows what they mean.
• Carry out 360-degree communication; be as inclusive as possible.
• Use appropriate communication media, styles & language with each stakeholder group.
• Take specific measures when working with Agile and blended teams and with different languages, cultures, locations & timezones.

The Business Analyst has a fundamental role to play in this process, as a translator between different domains, an excellent communicator in all its forms, a champion of clear & consistent language, and increasingly a persuasive storyteller.

BABOK v3 says:

‘Effective communication involves both the sender and receiver possessing the same understanding of the information being communicated.’

This means everyone involved in projects from the most senior decision-making executive to junior colleagues and IT professionals. Individuals and groups need to be nurtured and engaged appropriately.

With a mixture of case studies and audience participation I will provide examples of use and a set of tools & techniques to ensure that everyone gets the message!

Learning Objectives:

• Provide tools & techniques for effective communication
• Recognise the pitfalls of jargon on both sides of a conversation
• Determine the right communication medium, style & language to use with different stakeholder groups