About Parrotology

Communication between the business community and Information Technologists is like two diverse species trying to convey thoughts between them. It is necessary for survival and requires learning fundamental skills.

I have lived with a companion parrot named Scarlet since 1999. I’ve learned a great deal in how she has conveyed to (manipulate) my husband and me to get what she wants. I found this fascinating and realized how many of her natural skills describe the basic fundamentals of communicating between the different species…namely the business community and information technologists.

I’ve incorporated these fundamentals in many speeches, lectures and seminars under the heading of Parrotology 101. If these fundamental principles were written in a book published by O’Reilly (a publisher I admire), the book would be the definitive guide to engaging the business community and communicating with geeks. Of course, the cover would have a drawing of a parrot symbol…my Scarlet would be happy (demand) to be the model.

I’m currently writing such a book but it’s too early to approach publishers. Instead, I’ll use this blog to sketch out the topics and chapters. Feel free to provide comments and actual experience on how these fundamentals worked in bridging the communication gap between information technology and the business community.

If you decide to just be a lurker, I still hope you enjoy these tidbits. Remember…it isn’t about whether you know these skills…it’s how good are you at them.