Business Analysis and Tunnel Vision

🎯 Tunnel vision can occur when one is overly focused on specific aspects or outcomes, neglecting alternative solutions, potential risks, or broader impacts. This can adversely impact decision-making and hence project outcomes. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way when one of the clients pointed it out to me without mincing words!

🚀 Business Analysis Work can get impacted due to Tunnel vision in several ways :

1. Missed Opportunities: By focusing too narrowly, we might miss out on innovative solutions that could drive better business value.

2. Risk Oversight: Tunnel vision can lead to ignoring potential risks that aren’t immediately visible within the narrow scope of focus.

3. Stakeholder Dissatisfaction: Not considering the needs and perspectives of all stakeholders, overlooking potential opportunities, and failing to identify potential risks can result in solutions that don't meet or even contradict business needs.

🌟 Strategies to Overcome Tunnel Vision:

• Engage with diverse teams: Collaborate with other team members from different backgrounds and with varied skills to widen the scope of your analysis.

• Peer Reviews: Get the scope and focus of the project are reviewed by peers. Encourage them to challenge your analysis.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Actively seek out and consider the input of a broader group of stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. Remember, the 'butterfly effect' is real in business analysis!

• Continuous Learning: Stay updated about new methods, tools, and perspectives in the field of business analysis.

Have you experienced tunnel vision in your projects? How did you overcome it?