Questions To Ask To Better Understand Nontechnical Stakeholders’ Needs

Most digital transformation efforts fail not because of technology, but because tech leaders skip one crucial step: truly understanding the needs of nontechnical stakeholders. When executives from sales, marketing, or operations push for new systems without a clear rationale, the onus falls on technical leaders to ask the right questions and ensure alignment with business strategy.

A Forbes article titled "Questions To Ask To Better Understand Nontechnical Stakeholders’ Needs" underscores this challenge. It argues that tech leaders must dig deeper when stakeholders advocate for digital transformation without a well-defined purpose. The article, part of the Forbes Technology Council, provides a framework for bridging the communication gap between technical and nontechnical teams.

Digital transformation initiatives have historically struggled to deliver value. McKinsey reports that 70% of such programs fail, often due to a lack of alignment between technical capabilities and business objectives. Gartner predicts that through 2027, 65% of digital transformation projects will miss their targets because of insufficient stakeholder engagement. The root cause is rarely the technology itself; it's the absence of shared understanding.

To address this, tech leaders can pose specific questions that surface hidden assumptions and priorities. Key inquiries include: "What business problem are we exactly solving?" "How will you measure success in your day-to-day work?" "What are the nonnegotiable constraints — budget, timeline, regulatory?" "Who else depends on this change, and what do they need?" "What would happen if we did nothing?" These questions force stakeholders to articulate their vision, making it easier to evaluate whether a proposed transformation aligns with the overall strategy.

Understanding nontechnical stakeholders' needs is not just about gathering requirements; it is about building trust. When stakeholders feel heard, they are more likely to support technical decisions and compromise when inevitable trade-offs arise. A study by Deloitte found that companies with strong cross-functional collaboration are 5 times more likely to achieve digital transformation success. That collaboration starts with the simple act of asking the right questions.

The implications extend beyond individual projects. As organizations accelerate their digital investments — global spending on digital transformation is projected to reach $3.4 trillion by 2026 — the ability to align technical roadmaps with business reality becomes a competitive advantage. Leaders who master stakeholder empathy will not only avoid failed initiatives but also unlock innovation that directly serves customer and market needs.

Looking ahead, the role of tech leaders will increasingly involve translation between domains. The most successful chief information officers (CIOs) and chief technology officers (CTOs) are those who can decode business speak and translate technical complexity into strategic value. The questions outlined in Forbes provide a starting point. The next step is to institutionalize this practice, embedding stakeholder discovery into every transformation lifecycle.