The value of storytelling in technology work
Sep. 21, 2023 | By Dave Bine - RAPP
When we talk about storytelling in marketing, we typically refer to the use of storytelling techniques to build a brand narrative or a product story that connects with customers. We may also refer to the use of storytelling techniques to build a persuasive business case in general.
The intended value of storytelling in business is to evoke an emotional response in the listener through relatability, aspiration, or desire, to name a few. When people feel something, they are more likely to be persuaded than by appeals to reason alone.
But when we present technology work, we tend to figure that purely rational explanations are sufficient and appropriate and that storytelling and technology are separate spheres entirely. We deliberately strive for rational explanations for everything. We describe our systems architectures, application designs, and development roadmaps as the logical outcomes of careful thought and the distillation of many considerations. We present our technical designs like blueprints.