#217 - Impact Intelligence: Deliver Real Business Impact from Your Initiatives - Sriram Narayan
(08:54) Brought to you by Swimm.io.Start modernizing your mainframe faster with Swimm. Understand the what, why, and how of your mainframe code. Use AI to uncover critical code insights for seamless migration, refactoring, or system replacement.Why do so many well-intentioned initiatives fail to move the needle?In this episode, Sriram Narayan, author of ‘Impact Intelligence,’ reveals how to ensure your efforts translate into real, measurable business impact. Stop shooting in the dark and start delivering tangible results that matter.Key topics discussed:What “Impact Intelligence” means and why it is crucial for any businessThe common pitfalls: Why many tech and digital initiatives fail to achieve their intended business impactThe common misconceptions about “outcomes” in tech and product teams, and why delivery or adoption metrics are not enoughSurprising insights from the non-profit sector on rigorous impact measurement practicesUnderstanding the difference between immediate (proximate) results and long-term (downstream) impactHow to visualize and map your initiatives to core business goals using an “Impact Network”The critical challenge of “Impact Attribution” – how to know if your project actually moved the needleAddressing “Measurement Debt” — if you can’t measure it, should you build it?The iRex framework: A modular approach to building your organization’s Impact IntelligenceBalancing speed vs impact: Not just shipping features, but delivering measurable business resultsWhether you’re a tech leader, product manager, or executive, this episode will equip you with actionable frameworks and real-world examples to focus on what really matters: delivering measurable, meaningful business impact.Tune in and start building your organization’s Impact Intelligence muscle today! Timestamps:(00:00) Trailer & Intro(02:22) Career Turning Points(10:52) Impact Intelligence(11:40) The Importance of Impact Intelligence(15:09) Understanding Business Impact(19:11) Learning & Adopting from the NGO Space(22:35) Impact Feedback Loops(26:25) Proximate vs Downstream Impact(28:20) Building an Impact Network(36:47) Differences with OKR(38:12) Impact Attribution(44:51) The Importance of Measurement & Measurement Debt(48:31) iRex Framework(54:26) Balancing Between Speed of Delivery and Business Impact(57:32) 1 Tech lead Wisdom_____Sriram Narayan’s BioSriram Narayan is an independent consultant in the area of impact intelligence. He also helps clients improve digital, product and tech performance.Pearson published his first book, Agile IT Org Design , in 2015. It won endorsements from the then CIO of The Vanguard Group and the then MD of Consumer Digital at Lloyds Bank.Sriram has served in product, technology, innovation, and transformation leadership roles since 2006. He has also helped some of his clients move to a product operating model. His write-up of the topic in 2018 has since become a de facto industry reference. His other writings and talks are available at agileorgdesign.comFollow Sriram:LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/mrsriramnarayanBluesky - @srny.bsky.socialTwitter / X – @sriramnarayan📚 Impact Intelligence Website – impactintel.net📚 Agile Org Design Website – agileorgdesign.comEmail –
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