Telling the Project Story with Data

Cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner suggests we are 22 times more likely to remember a fact when it has been wrapped in a story. How can a project manager leverage this concept in order to facilitate communication about the project?

This presentation will focus on the project manager telling the project story backed by data. It will go beyond status and burn down chart and look at ways to present the objective, the definition of done, a benefits roadmap and other critical artifacts that will facilitate understanding and communication. A good story, backed with data, can hele reduce the “cone of uncertainty” and drive discussion among team members. Additionally, this technique spans all methodologies.

We will explore how the project manager can maximize this approach and drive better understanding of the project objectives and the benefits the organization will realize on successful adoption. We will present an example of telling the story with data from a customer persona through the final outcome for a project. We will also have a brief discussion on what types of graphs should be used to present certain types of data. After all, not only will you have to tell a story with data, but you may also have to explain the data to tell the story.

Learning Objectives:

Explore various techniques to develop a data driven story to present information to stakeholders on a project including tools such as a Vision Box, a Roadmap, and a customer demographic.
Understand data literacy principles about the most appropriate presentation canvas to emphasize your main point.
Incorporate the VARK Learning Styles (Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic) to ensure the story, and associated data, resonates with each type of learner.