Do you Think Operationally?

Let's start off with a simple exercise. I want you to answer 3 questions. For each question I want you to think of 3 things that you'll type. At the conclusion we'll review your answers. Don't worry, there aren't any time limits and your answers aren't being recorded.

To answer each question, click on them one by one. Answer each question before moving on to the next one.

Question 1

You're thinking of getting a new car. What are there first 3 things you think about?

Question 2

You're thinking of getting a cat. What are there first 3 things you think about?

Question 3

You've got a great idea for an internet startup. What are there first 3 things you think about?

Observation - Only reveal after answering Questions 1-3!

Now take a look at the answers you've entered. For each answer try to put it into one of two categories:

• It is a feature, characteristic or nuance.  Or it is something you only have to worry about once or initially.
• It is something you think about more than once or it affects you on an ongoing basis.

Now using my powers of deduction I'll make the following observations:

1. Regarding the car, your answer are mostly features
1. Color, size, heated seats, fuel economy, etc.
2. Regarding the cat, your answers are a mix of features and ongoing concerns
1. What breed, color, where to put the kitty litter, etc.
3. Regarding the startup, your answers are entirely features
1. What market segment, what features, what branding, etc.

Am I right?

The categories can be broadly thought of as non-operational and operational.  The first category are things you worry about once.  The second category is something you need to revisit or think about on an ongoing basis.

Now hopefully you had some "operational" answers mixed in with the "non-operational" ones.  This is a good sign.  It means that you are already thinking operationally!

I'd like to point out that we are all capable of thinking operationally.  When we were less experienced we only thought about "features".  But as we encounter new situations we learn to think operationally through experience.  Thus we can learn to think operationally about our software products, even before they go into production.

I hope this exercise helps on your path to making your teams more operationally aware!

Introduction

Welcome!

Here you'll find an occasional post on Operationalization.  First, you may be wondering what Operationalization means.  According to Merriam-Webster it is "to make operational".  What will I be making operational?  Well, I find the process of making software products/websites operational very interesting.  Typically it is a combination of culture and engineering practices.

Next, you may have seen the term "o16n".  What is that about?  If you count the number of letters in the word "operationalization" you'll find 18 letters.  Replace the middle 16 letters with "16" and you get "o16n"!  Much easier to type and say o16n.

I like to use analogies much of the time.  I find that a good analogy makes it easier to understand a concept.  And I like to use the Socratic method in order to make the learning process more engaging.

Your feedback is always appreciated!