How to overcome the fear of the blank sheet in a development IDE and create a strategic application portfolio? Discover how the Portfolio Workshop and Mendix help turn ideas into valuable, concrete solutions.
TheHorror vacui, or the fear of the blank page, is a phenomenon that arises when we are faced with endless possibilities and have no idea where to start. This hindrance does not only affect artists or writers, but anyone who has to generate ideas and make decisions in complex environments.
In the business context, the adoption of low-code technologies has amplified this feeling: the possibility of creating limitless applications forces you to choose wisely where to start. Thus, the blank page is no longer a blank canvas, a bare wall waiting to be decorated or a plate waiting to be filled – it becomes the screen of a development IDE, ready to welcome new ideas and make them a reality through code.
Imagine having to digitize business processes: the number of ideas, needs and possibilities can easily overwhelm you. Hence the need for a structured method to collect, organize and prioritize ideas, to turn them into a coherent and realizable portfolio.
The problem of the blank page has existed in computer science since the early days of programming, when the classic marked the beginning of a new languageBack then, when technology was still immature, development was a complex and costly process, constrained by technical limitations and reserved only for specific needs or particularly brilliant insights.
Today, with the almost complete absence of technological barriers, the possibilities for development are endless. While this progress has given us applications that can even ‘make coffee’, it has also created a new problem- an overabundance of poorly structured ideas and a growing uncertainty as to how to turn them into reality.
Be honest, how many times have you had an idea for an application? And how many times have you discussed it enthusiastically, whether in university lecture halls or over a drink with friends? And how many times, sitting in front of a computer and ready to bring that idea to life, have you found yourself not knowing where to start?
I would say that my thesis is well-founded.
Now imagine you are in a company tasked with actively identifying solutions to automate manual tasks. The amount of possibilities can quickly turn into confusion, generating a sense of overwhelm that slows down innovation.
At this point, after these discouraging lines, perhaps some of you may be asking “: ‘So what do we do, throw in the towel and go back to Excel sheets?” And my answer is: absolutely not. At WEGG – The Impact Factory we are of the problem, which is why we are also prepared to provide you with a solution.
Creating business applications is not just about developing software, but building a digital ecosystem that meets the needs of all business functions. Without a clear method, there is a risk of dispersing resources and efforts in fragmented solutions that lack an overall vision.
To tackle this challenge, two fundamental elements are needed:
The portfolio concept becomes essential: just as an artist collects his most representative works in his portfolio, a company must must organize and evaluate its digital initiatives. This approach enables the identification of the solutions with the greatest value to the business, ensuring a strategic use of resources and harmonious integration with the corporate ecosystem.
A tool that is limited to creating individual applications is not enough: what is needed is a complete platform, capable of managing the entire application lifecycle, from conception to realisation and integration into the corporate ecosystem. Such a system makes it possible to build an interconnected environment, in cui tutte le applicazioni aziendali collaborano per rispondere ai diversi casi d’uso dell’organizzazione.
To support companies in building their application portfolio, at WEGG adottiamo un approccio strutturato chiamato Portfolio Workshop.
The Portfolio Workshop is not just a brainstorming session, but a method for transforming disorganised ideas into a concrete digital strategy. In simple terms, it helps identify which applications truly add value to the business.
To get the most out of this session, we conduct it in partnership low-code Mendix platform the low-code platform recognized recognized by Gartner as the leader for the eighth consecutive year. Mendix offers advanced tools, to orchestrate the creation of a robust ecosystem of business applications.
One of its key functionalities, the Portfolio Manager , enables the the systematic organization and management of development ideas. Each portfolio can be customized to fit specific business needs, with ideas classified by status and strategic priority.
Thanks to the parameters defined during the analysis phase, each proposal automatically obtains a score that determines its relevance and development order. From here on, the application can be followed through its entire life cycle, from formalization of requirements to development and go-live.
By combining structured methodology and advanced technology, the Portfolio Workshop and Portfolio Manager help bring order to ideas, turning initial uncertainty into a clear and structured process. No more blank-sheet syndrome only a well-defined path to building a coherent and harmonious digital ecosystem. Beautiful, isn't it?
When we engage with our clients, we follow key steps to ensure that the Portfolio Workshop is effective and productive.
1) we choose an experienced moderator to lead the session
The workshop is run by a moderator, who is not just a facilitator, but a functional analyst leads the process with experience in evaluating business processes and digital solutions. Their role is to guide the session, keep the focus on the objectives and facilitate dialogue between the participants. Thanks to their expertise, the moderator provides initial feedback on the emerging ideas, helping to assess their feasibility and strategic value, and then integrates them critically, into the application portfolio.
2) we involve the right stakeholders
The moderator cannot work effectively without the right people in the room. To achieve concrete results, it is essential to involve key stakeholders, i.e. representatives of the business areas directly impacted by the digitization process.
Depending on the company’s objectives, this might include not only the IT department but also HR, Finance, Legal, Operations, and others. This cross-functional approach encourages collaboration between individuals who might not normally work together, revealing common needs and strategic synergies, and facilitating more accurate prioritization. of the applications to be developed.
3) We create dedicated moments for idea generation.
Once the stakeholders have been identified, we move on to the creative phase. Participants, divided into groups or working individually (depending on whether the session is in-person or online), freely jot down ideas without worrying about technical feasibility. The focus is on quantity and the free flow of ideas—the more ideas generated, the more potential solutions can be considered. This phase lasts about 10-15 minutes.
4) we discuss and classify ideas
By openly discussing the various ideas, stakeholders can compare perspectives across different company departments, making it easier to find solutions that meet everyone’s requirements.
Based on the characteristics of the various applications, ideas are then scored. The Mendix Portfolio Manager automatically assigns a score based on the information entered, allowing a clear order of priority.
5) we identify the pilot application
The output of the workshop is is a prioritized list of applications. The next step is to choose the pilot app, i.e. the project from which to develop the entire portfolio.
In our view, the best approach is to select an application that offers high strategic value but has manageable technical complexity. This ensures a quick, tangible result, that can serve as a model for subsequent developments.
Thanks to the Portfolio Workshop and the support of low-code Mendix platform, companies can bring order to their ideas, creating a clear and achievable roadmap. The fear of the the blank page vanishes, and what initially seemed like a horror vacui, becomes a structured creative process, where every idea finds its place in a coherent design.
There is no longer an empty canvas only a Sistine Chapel of digital innovation. With the right guidance, creativity flows freely and is transformed into concrete, valuable solutions.
Article written by Virginia Lazzari, Business Consultant in WEGG.
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