Determine Future State
Determine Future State is focused on identifying gaps in the present capabilities and proposing the necessary changes to achieve a desired future state that addresses either a problem or an opportunity. This process aids in pinpointing the necessary capabilities an organization needs to transition from its present state to its desired future state, meeting the business requirements.
Process Details
To determine the future state, further elicitation and analysis are required to outline the changes needed to address the business need. This entails deciding which current capabilities should be retained and which new ones should be introduced. In certain situations, only recommending process alterations might be sufficient without the need for new capabilities. However, more intricate situations, especially those crossing various departments or involving complex products, might necessitate a mix of new capabilities. This could range from process alterations, novel machinery, proficient staff, physical infrastructures, training programs, enhanced IT systems, to a fully redesigned product. It's also essential to understand how to incorporate these new elements with the current capabilities.
The future state might entail:
- Undertaking new work by the organization.
- Outsourcing to acquire capabilities which the organization can't achieve independently.
- Redirecting current resources in a new way.
- A blend of enhanced, novel, or obtained capabilities.
To decide which mix of capabilities will optimally address the given problem or opportunity, business analysis is executed. The product team, equipped with the knowledge from the current state analysis, engages in discussions to shape a precise description of the future state. This encompasses the identification of necessary capabilities and features that will allow the organization to move from its present state to the proposed future. It's important to note that while these capabilities and features highlight what is essential, they don't suggest a definite solution. More analysis is needed to ascertain how these capabilities and features will be executed. A segment of this analysis is about grasping how users or consumers perceive value.
After comprehending the future state, business goals and objectives are crafted to convey succinctly what the business expects a portfolio, program, or project to accomplish. It's crucial to differentiate between business goals and organizational goals, the latter having been examined during the current state analysis. While the business goals are aligned with organizational goals, they are more specific as they outline precise targets the business aims to achieve. In this context, "business" denotes the organizational segment that is grappling with an issue or aiming for an opportunity. This segment shows readiness and eagerness to back the need for change.
Inputs
Business Need
A business need refers to an issue, challenge, or opportunity that the organization wants to address. It is the primary reason for undertaking a project or initiative. Identifying the business need is essential as it serves as the foundation for defining the requirements and establishing the project's direction.
Current State Assessment
The current state assessment is a thorough evaluation of the present situation of an organization. It reviews existing processes, systems, and capabilities, identifying areas that are efficient and those that require improvement. This assessment sets the stage for understanding the gap between the current state and the desired future state.
Enterprise and Business Architectures
Enterprise and business architectures provide a strategic context for the organization, detailing its structure, processes, systems, and strategies. These architectures help in understanding how different elements of the organization relate and interact, thus providing a framework for aligning strategic goals with business operations.
Situation Statement
A situation statement offers a clear and concise description of a problem or opportunity faced by the organization. It encapsulates the essence of the business need, ensuring that stakeholders have a shared understanding of the issue at hand.
Tools and Techniques
Affinity Diagram
An affinity diagram is a visual tool used to organize and categorize large amounts of information, ideas, or data into related groups. It aids in recognizing patterns and relationships, often used during brainstorming sessions or when analyzing feedback.
Benchmarking
Benchmarking involves comparing an organization's processes, products, or services against best practices or industry standards. It helps in identifying areas of improvement by assessing the current state relative to recognized leading practices.
Capability Table
The capability table lists the organization's capabilities, describing each one in terms of its value, maturity, and other relevant attributes. This table aids in understanding what the organization can currently do and what capabilities it might need in the future.
Elicitation Techniques
Elicitation techniques are methods used to gather information from stakeholders. These can include interviews, surveys, workshops, and observation. The purpose is to uncover requirements, preferences, and constraints related to the project.
Feature Model
A feature model represents the features of a product or system in a structured manner. It allows for the visualization of relationships among features, helping in decision-making when defining product variants.
Gap Analysis
Gap analysis is a method used to identify the differences between the current state and the desired future state. It helps in understanding what needs to change to achieve the organization's objectives.
Kano Analysis
Kano analysis is a technique used to prioritize features based on customer preferences. It classifies features into categories such as basic, performance, and delighters to determine which ones are essential and which ones could enhance user satisfaction.
Process Flows
Process flows visually represent the steps in a process, showing how tasks, activities, and decisions flow from one point to another. They are crucial for understanding and analyzing how work gets done within an organization.
Purpose Alignment Model
The purpose alignment model is a framework used to align projects and initiatives with the organization's strategic goals. It ensures that efforts are directed towards activities that have the highest value and alignment with the business's objectives.
Solution Capability Matrix
The solution capability matrix is a tool that compares potential solutions based on their capabilities. It aids in decision-making by visualizing which solutions meet the organization's needs most effectively.
Outputs
Business Goals and Objectives
Business goals and objectives define the desired outcomes that the organization aims to achieve. They provide direction and purpose, ensuring that all stakeholders work towards a shared vision.
Required Capabilities and Features
Required capabilities and features are the specific functionalities, processes, or attributes that the solution must possess to address the business need and meet the defined goals and objectives. They form the basis for further detailed requirements elicitation and solution design.