Homework

Research thought of the week.

Research matters. Do your homework. Ask questions if you don’t understand. I’ve never understood those who think that asking questions means they’re stupid. That’s ego and that’s just getting in your way.

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Johann Lohrmann

Business Analyst
The Useful Research Blog | Effective research that you can use.
http://johannlohrmann.wordpress.com/
http://johannlohrmann.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johannlohrmann/

Pure Medical Research

Research thought of the week.

Medical research today will change the landscape for Generation Y. A healthy society is a productive society. Learn more at http://www.uniteforsight.org/research-course/module2.

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Johann Lohrmann

Business Analyst
The Useful Research Blog | Effective research that you can use.
http://johannlohrmann.wordpress.com/
http://johannlohrmann.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johannlohrmann/

 

 

Like Caves?

Research comes in many forms and varieties. No, it’s not a hot and glamourous profession. But it makes possible the music you hear, the 3D films that you watch and those material possessions that are deemed ‘culturally necessary’. Don’t knock research. Otherwise, you’d still be sleeping in a cave.
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Johann Lohrmann

Business Analyst
The Useful Research Blog | Effective research that you can use.
http://johannlohrmann.wordpress.com/
http://johannlohrmann.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johannlohrmann/

Rip Van Winkle Knows

I wish there was a playground for adults. I’m not sure how it happens but adults can act like the world is on fire. Ok, sometimes it is but 90% of the time it’s not. Need to discover your inner scientific child?

There’s a site where you can play the scientific research game. Check it out. http://www.powerofresearch.eu/. Go. Play and Experiment.
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Johann Lohrmann

Business Analyst
The Useful Research Blog | Effective research that you can use.
http://johannlohrmann.wordpress.com/
http://johannlohrmann.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johannlohrmann/

Plan or Fail. Your Choice.

A part of planning is research. Or research involves planning. I also keep another blog, The Business Analysis Corner. That’s my main blog. I wrote about the importance of planning.

Mind you, I’m a huge World War II buff. Even produced a documentary for PBS affiliate on World War II. Planning and research walk down similar paths. You have to plan your research and research your plan.

Know what works and what doesn’t. Start with a list and go from there.

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Johann Lohrmann

Business Analyst
The Useful Research Blog | Effective research that you can use.
http://johannlohrmann.wordpress.com/
http://johannlohrmann.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johannlohrmann/

Research Preparation

Make your Research Count. Or, don’t bother.

Research is integral to any new project. Stakeholders need to know that your information is accurate and on point. Diving head first into any research project is fool hardy. You need to have a solid foundation and understanding where you are going. Preparation is the key.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before beginning your research.

1. Know why you are doing the research. Have a definite understanding of why you are conducting the research.

2. Set a reasonable timeline. You’ll never have all the answers. Better to have 75% of the answers before the deadline then 100% after.

3. Know your critical questions. It’s easy to get side tracked. Know your core questions and keep them in front of you.

4. Know your resources. Someone has the answer to your question. Your quest is to find it. Asking the core questions puts you on the right path to getting the question answered.

5. Know your information options. Primary research requires a solid collection methodology. Secondary research involves sources. Prioritize your sources and keep in mind that deadline.

6. Know who can help you. Think about the about your resources and the time commitment involved. Just because your resource was there for your last project doesn’t mean that same resource will be there.

7. Know your maps. Mapping out your plan and keeping in front of you means you won’t lose focus. Take your time with this map. It is your guide and will keep you on the right path.

8. Take action. This is where you work your plan. This is where you will commit to and execute your plan. Keep your goals and maps in front of you.

Johann Lohrmann

Business Analyst
The Useful Research Blog | Effective research that you can use.
http://johannlohrmann.wordpress.com/
http://johannlohrmann.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johannlohrmann/

The Human Using Your Product

When I was 14 years old my mother cut out an advertisement from the Indianapolis Star. They were looking for kids who could write and who had some personality. Miraculously, I was invited to join the mass interview.

I never will forget that first day. There were over 150 kids and they were far more experienced. Some had been published. Some were going off to college. A couple of kids were editors of their high school newspaper. I thought my writing was decent but wasn’t sure it would pass their tests. In the end they choose 12 kids.

Apparently, they liked my writing. I was surprised when they called me for a second interview and eventually hired me. Turns out they were looking for raw talent. They were looking for something else too. They wanted someone who could put themselves in someone else’s shoes.

Mind you, I had written about my love affair with tennis. I wrote what it must be like for a baseliner to play on grass courts. (True tennis buffs out there will completely understand why knowing your surface can make or destroy your game).

Anyway, a lot of the kids wrote big essays with flowery words. And mine was really simple. If we haven’t met then I can assure you I am not a ‘flowery person’. Practical and down to earth are my speeds.

Not your shoes?

Putting yourselves in someone else’s shoes. Yes, it’s a cliché. But think about it from a product point of view. If you produce a product (documentary, website, interview) with the end user in mind, you’ll be successful.

Everything you do should be with the end user in mind. And guess what- that precious ROI (Return on Investment) will be there too.

Sure, it takes a fair amount of risk- financially, creatively and you have to keep pushing yourself.

Think about your own decisions when it comes to design and development. Are you thinking how your end user and your audience will use your product? Are you doing so at every stage of the product’s development? If not, begin thinking how your product is being used.

Your client will appreciate it and so will their end users.

Johann Lohrmann
The Useful Research Blog | Effective research that you can use.
http://johannlohrmann.wordpress.com/
http://johannlohrmann.com/

Interested in learning more about Defining Personas? Check out these sites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persona_%28marketing%29
http://www.slideshare.net/kadoch/defining-personas-a-user-experience-approach
http://www.slideshare.net/guest60e6aa1/business-analyst-role-in-developing-successful-user-experience

Keywords: Business Analysis, Defining Personas, Analyzing Data, Goals and Objectives

The Mentor in Your Business Career

Johann Lohrmann is an award-winning business analyst who specializes in increasing a company’s bottom line through strategic planning, analysis and creative thought. He holds a BA in Communications.

Dictionary.com defines a mentor as:

1. a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.
2. an influential senior sponsor or supporter.

My first professional job was with WTVI-TV. WTVI-TV is a PBS affiliate and one of the best lessons I learned was the power of mentorship. There, I was surrounded by award-winning talent that included writers, directors, producers and crew. These were guys who had decades of experience.

The job of the mentor is to serve as a guide. He is there to support and offer his wisdom. He’s also required to learn from his protégé. Now, it sounds odd to think of a mentor learning from his protégé but think about it for a minute. Would you want a mentor who is not open and capable of learning?

The job of the protégé is to listen and ask questions. He is charged with learning as much as he can on his own and from his mentor. He is required to teach his mentor what he knows.

Remember, that one day the protégé will become a mentor. The best case scenario for a mentor/protégé relationship is where both are direct, open and leave their egos at the door.

Interested in learning more about mentoring? Check out these sites.

• http://www.mentoring.org/
• http://thementornetwork.com/
• http://internships.about.com/od/internships101/tp/MentQualities.htm

Johann Lohrmann
The Useful Research Blog | Effective research that you can use.
http://johannlohrmann.wordpress.com/
http://johannlohrmann.com/

What to Look for in Website Design Company: Ask the Right Questions to get the Right Answers

Johann Lohrmann is an award-winning business analyst who specializes in increasing a company’s bottom line through strategic planning, analysis and creative thought. He holds a BA in Communications.

I am by trade in the communications business and am paid to understand how people think and share information.

Technology scares otherwise confident men. I’ve had executive level gentlemen express their disdain for websites and the technology behind them. These successful men know they need a website but they’re unsure even where to begin.

Frequently I get the ‘I’m too old to learn a new system’ lament.  Part of this fear comes from being afraid of making a wrong decision. Ok. Understood. The list of fears could be endless.

Let’s tackle this from another angle. What if you could learn to ask better questions?

A healthy infusion of knowledge and information can put those fears to rest. Here’s my list of what you should do to prepare. Your preparation is paramount to the success of your website. Before I hire any company I conduct my own due diligence.

Here’s How You Take Control of those Private Concerns.

1. I don’t speak ‘web’ and that (privately) terrifies me. I don’t want to get ripped off.

Solution: Review the potential website company’s past work. Why? If you like their past work then there’s a good chance you’ll like the options they give you.

2. I know that I should have a website but am not sure what it will do for me.

Solution: Having an online presence is mandatory today. If you don’t have one your customers may wonder if you’re still in business.  You’ll also be missing out on tremendous opportunities to promote your goods and services and help generate revenue.

3. I don’t have time to learn new technology or I simply have no interest in learning technology or how to build a website.

Solution: Ask the company on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most difficult) how hard it is for a novice to learn the system.
If you’re not interested in learning or editing your content, say so up front. Otherwise, it could cost you a pretty penny down the line.

4. I’m concerned about costs and what I can do to control it.

Solution: Get the proposal in writing. Know upfront exactly what you’re paying for, the estimated time of delivery and how you will be kept up-to-date on your project.

5. I’ve done some homework and frankly, I am overwhelmed with the amount of information.

Solution: Know exactly what will be expected of you. Here’s what to ask.

• Ask the prospective website design company if you will need to provide content (writing, images and/or video?)
• Ask about the company’s deadlines and what your deadlines are. Make a note of your deadlines and do everything to keep them.
• Ask the website design company to list out the process for you.

Look at these questions and bookmark this article. When you ask the right questions, you give yourself a platform of confidence. And yes, one hallmark of a good website company is they give you the space to ask questions.

Johann Lohrmann
The Useful Research Blog | Effective research that you can use.
http://johannlohrmann.wordpress.com/

Mobile Apps Vs. Mobile Websites

Johann Lohrmann is an Atlanta-based, Emmy-nominated and multiple Silver Telly award-winning documentary film producer who currently conducts B2B research for well-established businesses.

AM vs. FM.
Beta vs. VHS.
SD vs. HD.
Flash vs. HTML.
Mobile Apps vs. Mobile Websites.

This isn’t a new discussion. The formats may change but the question of how to best deliver information hasn’t. Open for debate is how to deliver information and entertainment on the go. Some are predicting that mobile apps will eventually devoured by all things web. Others believe that mobile apps will allow for even more target/niche marketing.

The Basics

Mobile Website- a smaller version of a main website that is on your mobile device.  Think of accessing the Internet on your phone and then going to CNN.com.

Mobile App- program that is downloaded to a specific device, typically for a specific reason. Examples of the devices include iPhone/iTouch, iPad, Android, Blackberry….

An example of a mobile app is Locate Wi-Fi anywhere. It’s essentially a directory of international hotspots. We’re talking 140 countries so it’s perfect for the traveler.

For the past few years there’s been something of a debate between the better of the two. As with most items Internet related, it really depends on the user’s end goals.

Here are three considerations when venturing down the mobile app vs. the mobile web road.

The Considerations

1. Are you interested in reaching the masses or reaching a target/niche audience?

If you’re interested in reaching the masses then a mobile website is the way to go. A mobile website gives you another channel of contact in addition to your website.  Don’t be misled with the idea of a target audience here.

If you’re interested in reaching a target/niche audience then you’ll want to take advantage of the mobile app. Typically, there are three ways a user will learn of a particular app: invitation through beta testing, online via desktop (or online in general) or through a search on a mobile device.

Ok, so there were some obvious statements made there but think about how your audience finds you. Well-known sites liked LinkedIn and Facebook are the exception to this rule.

2. Think about it from the user’s point of view.

If you want the user to use an app for a specific task or for a limited number of tasks, then use a mobile app. The functionality of a mobile app works well within a device’s native application and the bonus is an Internet connection is not always required.

If you want to deliver content, then mobile websites are certainly the way to go. Content Management Systems like WordPress, Drupal and Joomla! make it fairly easy to enable the mobile website feature on the backend of a website.

3. The Start-up Costs and the Return on Investment

Cost is a factor that should be considered when weighing the pros and cons of using a mobile app vs. mobile web. Of course, cost takes different forms. There’s the education factor and then the dollar amount.

If you’re already building a website (especially on one of the popular CMS platforms) then it’s relatively easy to activate the mobile website element. In the long-term mobile websites typically cost less and are easier to maintain. When a change is made to the parent website a change is also made to the mobile website.

Contrast the mobile website with the mobile app.  With a mobile app you are limited when it comes to the do-it-yourself option.  As well, a mobile app that works on an iPhone will not work in its particular form. To put it to you another way, you’ll need a developer to produce an app for each device. And if you want to update the mobile app then you’ll need to work with a developer to do so.

The Takeaway

The Idea	Mobile App	Mobile Web
The Basics	Produced for a specific task (Angry Birds).	Smaller version of your website (CNN Mobile).
Your Audience	Reaching the masses.	Targeted/Niche audience.
User’s Experience	Specific Task (Games, entertainment, device utilities….)	Delivering content including services and information.
Start-up, ROI	Easy to activate off popular CMS platforms. Not expensive to maintain overtime.	Each mobile device needs to have its own mobile app. Can be expensive to change app overtime.

Mobile Website	Your Audience	Mobile App

 

Johann Lohrmann
The Useful Research Blog | Effective research that you can use.
http://johannlohrmann.wordpress.com/