Conveying across the Board

Challenge:    There is always a rift between technical person and the management team. In todays field

of business, technology is grasping on almost every business. We have seen drastic steps taken by  businesses to just be in the game. And this technological advancement is dependent of Data. It is  said ‘Data’ is the new ‘Oil’. Various immerging fields like Data Science, Data Engineering, Big  Data etc. are appealing decision makers to use it for their businesses. But when the time comes, to  convey an Idea across the Board room, we see managers and decision makers finding it difficult  to understand the insights presented by technical team (Data Scientists).

I face one such situation in recent past. We were to present an insight on the customers data

on PAN country basis for an automotive manufacturer. When I went to present with my technical  specifications, for example – Predictive models based on past data, I found that the Board is getting  it difficult to understand the technicality of the model. My complete presentation was futile as I  was not able to convince the Board to invest in my model.    Selection:    When my model was rejected, I and my team were fairly depressed. We worked hard and

did many simulations. We were confident that our model will work and generated great amount of  revenue for our company. After introspection I came to a conclusion that we failed to present out  Idea across the Board. I came across the Design Thinking for Innovation course and was fascinated  with one of the tools – Storytelling.      Application:    Right after the Storytelling design tool session, I called for a team meeting and asked my

team members to revisit our presentation and find what we lacked in it. My team members were  confused because they thought the presentation to be up to the mark. Then I asked my team to  present the same presentation for my friends from other department (Marketing, Sales, Operations,  Design) and take their feedback. The response from my friends was an eye-opener to everyone.  They didn’t understand the technicality in the same way as the Board. Then I explained my team  to be more vocal and present in layman’s term. They were confused. I them explained them the  concept of storytelling. As I learned in this course, I explained them that a good story is simply  conveying a message that is logical, has emotional connection and has a larger purpose. Then I  explained them how a good story must be designed particularly for the audience, should have clear  sequence of events and should have moments of reflection. I tried to explain then the concept by  giving an example of good movie. How a director engages its audience with good plot, how he  creates and keeps interest in his viewers, how he creates tension as the plot thickens and then  finally when everyone is hooked to the plot the brings in the climax and gives the audience to  reflect on afterwards. My team was astonished as they never related such thing with the everyday  presentation. They redid the entire presentation keeping in mind what the audience (The Board)  wants and how the flow should be. They included pictures and videos and animations keeping  technicality to as minimum as possible. They gave the Board something to think in easy and  manageable words.

Insights:    This time the Board was very impressed and sanctioned our budget right away. They got

the whole story about the model, how that will help company to increase revenue. Also, with their  suggestions, which came from their business experience, we were fine tune few sections we were  having trouble with. The storytelling fundamental were understood by my team and from then  after every presentation is made keeping the storytelling tool in mind.    Approach:    The storytelling approach is very visual and easy to understand. The Board too liked our

presentation way and has requested my team to transfer our learnings to various departments. This  course was a great learning and a big help for me and my team.


Conveying across the Board Challenge : There is always a rift between technical person and the management team . In todays field of business , technology is grasping on almost every business . We have seen drastic steps taken by businesses to just be in the game . And this technological advancement is dependent of Data . It is said ‘ Data ’ is the new ‘ Oil ’ . Various immerging fields like Data Science , Data Engineering , Big Data etc . are appealing decision makers to use it for their businesses . But when the time comes , to convey an Idea across the Board room , we see managers and decision makers finding it difficult to understand the insights presented by technical team ( Data Scientists ) . I face one such situation in recent past . We were to present an insight on the customers data on PAN country basis for an automotive manufacturer . When I went to present with my technical specifications , for example – Predictive models based on past data , I found that the Board is getting it difficult to understand the technicality of the model . My complete presentation was futile as I was not able to convince the Board to invest in my model . Selection : When my model was rejected , I and my team were fairly depressed . We worked hard and did many simulations . We were confident that our model will work and generated great amount of revenue for our company . After introspection I came to a conclusion that we failed to present out Idea across the Board . I came across the Design Thinking for Innovation course and was fascinated with one of the tools – Storytelling . Application : Right after the Storytelling design tool session , I called for a team meeting and asked my team members to revisit our presentation and find what we lacked in it . My team members were confused because they thought the presentation to be up to the mark . Then I asked my team to present the same presentation for my friends from other department ( Marketing , Sales , Operations , Design ) and take their feedback . The response from my friends was an eye - opener to everyone . They did n’t understand the technicality in the same way as the Board . Then I explained my team to be more vocal and present in layman ’s term . They were confused . I them explained them the concept of storytelling . As I learned in this course , I explained them that a good story is simply conveying a message that is logical , has emotional connection and has a larger purpose . Then I explained them how a good story must be designed particularly for the audience , should have clear sequence of events and should have moments of reflection . I tried to explain then the concept by giving an example of good movie . How a director engages its audience with good plot , how he creates and keeps interest in his viewers , how he creates tension as the plot thickens and then finally when everyone is hooked to the plot the brings in the climax and gives the audience to reflect on afterwards . My team was astonished as they never related such thing with the everyday presentation . They redid the entire presentation keeping in mind what the audience ( The Board ) wants and how the flow should be . They included pictures and videos and animations keeping technicality to as minimum as possible . They gave the Board something to think in easy and manageable words . Insights : This time the Board was very impressed and sanctioned our budget right away . They got the whole story about the model , how that will help company to increase revenue . Also , with their suggestions , which came from their business experience , we were fine tune few sections we were having trouble with . The storytelling fundamental were understood by my team and from then after every presentation is made keeping the storytelling tool in mind . Approach : The storytelling approach is very visual and easy to understand . The Board too liked our presentation way and has requested my team to transfer our learnings to various departments . This course was a great learning and a big help for me and my team .