Start with the Big Rocks in Your Discovery Work
Trying to solve a wicked problems in healthcare can be puzzling. Sometimes in our discovery work, it is difficult to know what to focus on. I think it’s crucial to focus on the big picture first. Think of it like filling a bottle with rocks, pebbles, and sand. You need to start with the big rocks before adding the smaller elements. This approach helps ensure that your overall strategy is grounded in the most critical aspects of your transformation journey.
Prioritise the Big Touch Points
In discovery work, your big touch points are the major themes or challenges that will likely shape your entire strategy. These are the overarching issues that define the direction of your transformation, such as organisational structure, workflow efficiency, or platform integration. By addressing these large-scale areas first, you create a foundation for the smaller, more intricate details to follow. Focusing on these big touch points helps you establish clarity early on. They’re the cornerstones of your transformation strategy. Without defining these, you risk getting lost in the finer details and missing the bigger picture.
Move to the Finer Details
Once you’ve identified and addressed the larger issues, you can move to the smaller details—the pebbles and sand. These finer points are essential for executing your strategy effectively. They may include things like the roles and responsibilities of various actors, specific configurations, or workflows within individual departments. While these details are important, they should come second. Starting with the big rocks allows you to align the smaller elements in a way that supports your overarching strategy. The smaller touch points can even reveal key insights on how to execute your strategy—or how to avoid potential pitfalls.
Why This Approach Works
In my experience, starting with smaller details before addressing the big rocks leads to confusion and misaligned priorities. You may find yourself tweaking minor processes without understanding the broader challenges at play. Think of the big rocks as your strategic compass. They guide the overall direction of your project, while the smaller details act as tactical adjustments that fine-tune execution. By following this method, you can ensure that each step of your discovery work builds on a solid foundation and leads to meaningful outcomes.
Conclusion
When conducting discovery work for healthcare digital transformation, remember the importance of prioritising the big rocks—the major strategic touch points—before diving into the finer details. By starting large and narrowing down, you create a clearer path for your transformation. The details will come into place naturally, but only if your strategy is anchored by the big, essential issues. In the end, successful digital transformation is about managing both the big rocks and the sand—but you can’t fill the bottle properly if you start with the sand.
