Challenge

My company has long had challenges with our “Quote to Cash” process that we use to sell  products to customers and then invoice and collect payment. The process is large and complex,  and although we know it is not an efficient, streamlined process, the root causes have always  been complex and often tangled, making it difficult to identify which actions would be most  effective in solving the problem.     Selection  After digging into the challenges using the “What is” assessment of current state, I decided to  use the storytelling tool in order to ensure that I was able to succinctly convey the findings in a  compelling way that would provide color and a visualization for the strategy we were  recommending, and would create a shared understanding of the problem and recommended  approach to the solution. As the video lecture described, I wanted to create a cause that our  audience would understand and respond to.     Application  I approached my storytelling by using the rules outlined in the storytelling section:

1. Know your audience​: My main audience was our CIO, who is responsible for delivering a  solution to this problem. She wants to understand the case for change, but also quick  and to the point, and supported by data. She wants to know that any proposed solution  will make a big impact on the issue, and show results quickly.

2. Clear sequence of events​: I summarized how our “what is” current state assessment led  me to this recommendation. We identified the most impactful pain points, and we  grouped them into 3 themes. I then showed my recommended roadmap of projects to  address the pain points, and the roadmap was color-coded to match the 3 pain point  themes, so that we could easily show the direct relationship between the problem and  how we expected to solve the problem. We had identified that there was one major  action needed - “defining ownership and roles & responsibilities” - that was an  overarching action that was a necessary first step for all other actions that would follow.

3. Moments of reflection, or asking questions​: I also used the “asking questions” and “build  suspense” techniques to lay out the challenge and then explore the path to the solution. I  felt that the story was laid out in a way that the conclusion was natural and felt clear,  even though this has historically been a murky and complicated issue.

Insight  I chose storytelling because I felt it would make this presentation clear and compelling for the  listener, and likely lead us to the outcome we wanted. But additionally, what I realized as I  began using this tool is that it forced me to really organize my thoughts, to think through what  the key point of the story was, to make a sales pitch for my recommendation. So I actually felt it  was most useful in giving me additional insight and perspective on my subject matter, in addition  to providing a useful structure for communicating.     Approach

I would absolutely use this tool again, because I found it to be incredibly effective. In future use  of this tool, I would like begin to think through my story, and begin laying it out, earlier in the  process, so that I could make sure that I was focusing on gathering data points that relate to the  story I’m trying to tell.


Challenge My company has long had challenges with our “ Quote to Cash ” process that we use to sell products to customers and then invoice and collect payment . The process is large and complex , and although we know it is not an efficient , streamlined process , the root causes have always been complex and often tangled , making it difficult to identify which actions would be most effective in solving the problem . Selection After digging into the challenges using the “ What is ” assessment of current state , I decided to use the storytelling tool in order to ensure that I was able to succinctly convey the findings in a compelling way that would provide color and a visualization for the strategy we were recommending , and would create a shared understanding of the problem and recommended approach to the solution . As the video lecture described , I wanted to create a cause that our audience would understand and respond to . Application I approached my storytelling by using the rules outlined in the storytelling section : 1 . Know your audience​ : My main audience was our CIO , who is responsible for delivering a solution to this problem . She wants to understand the case for change , but also quick and to the point , and supported by data . She wants to know that any proposed solution will make a big impact on the issue , and show results quickly . 2 . Clear sequence of events​ : I summarized how our “ what is ” current state assessment led me to this recommendation . We identified the most impactful pain points , and we grouped them into 3 themes . I then showed my recommended roadmap of projects to address the pain points , and the roadmap was color - coded to match the 3 pain point themes , so that we could easily show the direct relationship between the problem and how we expected to solve the problem . We had identified that there was one major action needed - “ defining ownership and roles & responsibilities ” - that was an overarching action that was a necessary first step for all other actions that would follow . 3 . Moments of reflection , or asking questions​ : I also used the “ asking questions ” and “ build suspense ” techniques to lay out the challenge and then explore the path to the solution . I felt that the story was laid out in a way that the conclusion was natural and felt clear , even though this has historically been a murky and complicated issue . Insight I chose storytelling because I felt it would make this presentation clear and compelling for the listener , and likely lead us to the outcome we wanted . But additionally , what I realized as I began using this tool is that it forced me to really organize my thoughts , to think through what the key point of the story was , to make a sales pitch for my recommendation . So I actually felt it was most useful in giving me additional insight and perspective on my subject matter , in addition to providing a useful structure for communicating . Approach I would absolutely use this tool again , because I found it to be incredibly effective . In future use of this tool , I would like begin to think through my story , and begin laying it out , earlier in the process , so that I could make sure that I was focusing on gathering data points that relate to the story I ’m trying to tell .