Clear Recommendations
Recommendations include the reasoning, tradeoffs, and alternatives behind them.
How We Work
Understand the problem before choosing the solution.
We begin by reviewing what is already in place, what is not working, and what the client actually needs. The scope follows from that.
Our Approach
A straightforward process.
The details vary by engagement, but the basic approach remains the same.
- 01
Assessment
Review the current situation, systems, product, people, constraints, and available information.
- 02
Priorities
Determine what needs attention, what can wait, and what should remain unchanged.
- 03
Implementation
Design, configure, develop, integrate, prototype, or manage the work required.
- 04
Validation
Test the result, resolve remaining issues, and prepare it for continued use.
Senior Involvement
The people responsible for the work stay involved in the work.
ballastIQ remains deliberately small. Technical direction, architecture, major decisions, and implementation are not handed through layers of account management.
Additional specialists are brought in when the engagement requires them.
Working Principles
What clients can expect.
Practical Scope
The work should be appropriate to the problem rather than larger than necessary.
Existing Strengths Matter
Useful systems, processes, technology, and internal expertise should be retained where they still serve the business well.
Implementation Matters
A recommendation has limited value if it cannot work within the actual budget, team, systems, and operating environment.
Engagement Options
The scope depends on what the situation requires.
Some work begins with a focused assessment. Other engagements begin with a defined project or an ongoing need for technical leadership.
Strategic Assessment
A focused review of the business, product, technology, or technical question before a larger commitment.
Assessment Details →Defined Project
A clearly scoped business improvement, product development, systems, integration, or implementation engagement.
Fractional CTO
Ongoing technical leadership for products, architecture, vendors, development, systems, and major decisions.
Technical Diligence
Independent review of products, technology, architecture, teams, vendors, and technical risk.
Getting Started
A project does not need to be fully defined before the first assessment.
Early work can establish the problem, priorities, available options, and an appropriate scope for what follows.