Our Multichannel Approach

Their Way:
You’re familiar with the traditional, waterfall approach to consulting projects: Each step pours its results into the following, and each step requires all its input from the previous one, so every step has to be completed before the next can begin.

	The waterfall approach doesn't work for eBusiness solutions

The waterfall approach may be suited to some well-constrained projects -- such as building an order processing system, or assembling a 747 -- but it’s completely inappropriate for building dynamic business intelligence solutions. Because waterfall-based activities occur serially instead of simultaneously, problems often arise:

• The project takes longer.
  
  
• Users make a best-guess at what they think they want and then remain in the dark as developers pursue those often incomplete (or inconsistent) goals.
  
  
• At system delivery, the client discovers that this isn’t what users really need or that their needs have legitimately changed.
  
  
• At that point, it’s often not possible to go back to square one with the new expectations. To get something out the door, the consultant often compromises with a kludge (a hasty and inelegant work of programming) that can undermine the architecture and make maintenance a nightmare.
  
  

The Creative Data Way:
Our multichannel approach is very different. All the processes of the engagement ramp up, go into production, and come to a close at the same time.

A multichannel approach avoids unpleasant surprises

Each channel is a process that results in a different part of the final solution:

Channel	Goal
External Interface Channel	Management commitment Training Strategy definition
Business Needs Channel	Business requirements analysis Business model Business rules Information access needs Data validation
Data Services Channel	Source system analysis Data model Data warehouse design Data transformation Data processing programs
Infrastructure Channel	Database analysis, sizing, and allocation Network analysis and optimization Performance tuning Website hosting
Documentation Channel	Online help Interface design Website content Metadata capture
Quality Assurance Channel	Iterative acceptance test design and implementation

Because the multichannel approach ensures that all channels operate in tandem and interact with each other in an iterative fashion, Creative Data can:

• Address issues and solve problems as soon as they come up, no matter what area(s) of the solution they affect. Throughout the project, the team -- which includes both Creative Data and client staff -- communicates via email and voicemail, meetings, and status reports.
  
  
• Test assumptions. ‘Early-and-often’ milestones and walkthroughs allow for evolving (and changing!) expectations as users discover what they really need or want.
  
  
• Ensure that all project stakeholders remain ‘in the loop’ as the project progresses.
  
  
• Deliver a solution that works without surprises … except, perhaps, that the solution arrives on time and that users love it!