People get pictures. When you talk code, logic or in abstract it hurts the head of the client and misses that rare opportunity to use the client’s eyes and ears at the same time.

We were lucky enough to complete an iterative development process with The Virtual and were very happy with the results. A significant feature in attaining a good result for us was the opportunity to see the object and its relationships to other objects through a diagrammatic.  We had no idea the thing was then generating code, but we did know what was being talked about and therefore had a richer exploration of what we wanted in a more economic (time, which is money in development too!) way.

The other aspect of using diagrams which was hugely beneficial was that because we could understand we became partners more easily in the development and rather complicated loops and relationships could be systematically talked about and unraveled.  As a result we are now huge advocates of both the company and people involved and will be very unlikely to ever consider developing outside of this approach again. Simply put, we get it, and we don’t have the IQs developers have!

We acknowledge that for new clients the iterative process is very ‘budget scary’. That said, and having gone through this process, we don’t really know how else an idea / business structure can be fully explored and refined without this level of communication and common ground. To us, this consultative, collaborative and mutually educational process delivers results. To do without it, and operate in a quote and query paradigm where we give a ‘what we want and know now’ scoping document and get ‘quotes’ from developers, leads in our thinking to combative and contestable behaviour. The mutual view isn’t sufficiently developed and therefore the solution can’t be as succinct nor economic.

Through this experience (developing a business wide web application from scratch) and our experience with a web marketing and research company we have identified several other excellent business opportunities. We don’t think that would have come about if we sat back, couldn’t see and had simply asked for the leanest price (and view) possible.

It’s a tribute to Paul at The Virtual and his team that we took this approach.  It wasn’t originally intended as we were from the typical cast of define what you want and buy it. But, nothing like a good coffee, a chap in a wooly jumper working from the lower floor of his home, and some honest discussion between all the team involved.  I guess if you want to develop anything, develop trust first, then find a way to help the customer understand their own needs (diagrams please), then stick with them and deliver.

We would wish any business owner the same insight we have enjoyed and the resulting development prospects we now have on our plate.  We believe The Virtual are able to deliver substantial business value through the platforms and processes they use in a very time efficient and financially fair manner.

Sincerely

Steven Gourley
Academic Director
New Zealand Institute of Health and Fitness

Tel:     03 669 0034
Mob:   027 2011 262
Mail:   PO Box 7782 Sydenham, Christchurch, 8240
Web:   www.nzihf.co.nz