The techniques in this article use a NLP technique called the Milton model, which can be used to identify intentions when interviewing stakeholders.
When to use:
- Opportunities and benefits unclear or not yet defined
- To uncover justifications behind requirements
- Writing a business case or Vision document
- If stakeholders go straight into the solution and need a technique to uncover the business requirement behind it
- If stakeholders go into detail and need to understand the context and bigger picture first
For an introduction to what NLP is please read the introduction in the following article How NLP can be used to improve communication with stakeholders
Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder studied Milton H Erickson to produce the Milton model. Erickson had a reputation in the 1970’s for being one of the most successful and influential therapists.
It was developed for the purposes of therapy but can be applied to the work environment and business analysis because of its uses in uncovering the intention behind the requirements given and its uses for getting the bigger picture.
There are 4 basic questions provided below to obtain the bigger picture using the principles of the Milton Model.
The 4 questions are:
- For what purpose?
- What is your intention?
- What is this an example of?
- What does having this give you that is more important?
See below for an example of how this works.
Thoughts? Questions? Please share in the comments.
