It has been my experience that suggestions to any SME (subject matter expert) individual or group that include specifics within that domain are poorly received. While each circumstance is unique, I have concluded that the problem is with the five currencies, and in particular with security and prestige. It takes a very confident individual to accept outside advice or suggestions regarding something the individual is considered an expert in.

So how are your suggestions to IT phrased? Are you making specific technical suggestions, or making business suggestions that IT can turn into technical solutions? Do your suggestions give them a gain in their security and prestige, or a loss by exposing their short comings?

A good business analyst understands this intuitively or by training. His own status within the company should be based on a mutually successful relationship between business units and technical units, so he gains whenever he enables cooperation. A key part of his task is to phrase the issues so each side feels an aggregate gain in time, money, security, knowledge, and prestige.

So what's the point in continuing to ask? I suspect its because you care about doing a good job, and care about being part of a successful company.

Private Reply to Ken Hilving (new win)