End-to-end

When someone says your solution is not 'end-to-end', are they saying your solution is:

• Deficient in some way?
• They need the solution scope to be expanded?

Sometimes its hard to tell when someone is pointing out a genuine improvement opportunity versus scoring points.

One way to prevent arguments and debates is to define what 'end-to-end' means for the audience. First define the value chain needed to meet a customer outcome. Then pick a starting and ending point for your solution and explain why that is chosen.

After defining scope you can turn your attention to 'how' the end-to-end solution will be build. Some pieces of the solution may be outsourced and others may be built in house. Some pieces may be available off the shelf, others need to be custom built. Sometimes putting together a solution requires new business models and joint ventures.

Use visuals to help the audience see what is 'in' and what is 'out'. Scope may be altered based on capabilities, so the 'what' and the 'how' have to interact iteratively to get the end-to-end picture.