Working with the business:

Consulting skills for data professionals

presented by Graeme Simsion

Rated “Best Session” at five International DAMA Conferences. 

Overview

Being right isn’t enough. As every data professional knows – or soon learns – one of the major challenges of the job is engaging the client: understanding their requirements, winning their support, and meeting their expectations.

In this workshop, Graeme shares principles, techniques, and tips learned from over 25 years of working in the data management field and managing a successful consultancy.
He shows you how to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of business needs and priorities
• Negotiate and manage expectations
• Deal with problems – and difficult people
• Build effective long-term relationships

This is a heavily interactive workshop, with time set aside for discussion of case studies and issues raised by attendees.

The Haddock

Otherwise known as the Data Administrator’s lament …

“You are sad,” the Knight said in an anxious tone: “Let me sing you a song to comfort you.”

“Is it very long?” Alice asked, for she had heard a good deal of poetry that day.

“It's long,” said the Knight, “but it's very, very beautiful. Everybody that hears me sing it - either it brings the tears to their eyes, or else -”

“Or else what?” said Alice, for the Knight had made a sudden pause.

“Or else it doesn't, you know. The name of the song is called ‘Haddocks' Eyes.’”

“Oh, that's the name of the song, is it?" Alice said, trying to feel interested.

“No, you don't understand,” the Knight said, looking a little vexed. “That's what the name is called. The name really is ‘The Aged Aged Man.’”

“Then I ought to have said ‘That's what the song is called’?” Alice corrected herself.

“No, you oughtn't: that's quite another thing! The song is called ‘Ways And Means’: but that's only what it's called, you know!”

“Well, what is the song, then?” said Alice, who was by this time completely bewildered.

“I was coming to that,” the Knight said. “The song really is ‘A-sitting On A Gate’: and the tune's my own invention.”

Text by Lewis Carrol, Through the Looking Glass

Courtesy Pat Davitt, Mayo Clinic