Lesson from the field: Introducing Anti-goals to your project

I was talking to a client recently about a project we were working on and the term “Anti-Goal” popped up. We all know what goals are. The thing that we are trying to accomplish. Anti-goals are those things we are trying to avoid. As we discussed the goals of the project, my client said “And of course we do not want to get hacked.” A very clear anti-goal.   

These types of anti-goals are most often unstated and left to be implied by the project owners. The problem is, cybersecurity ends up being “someone else’s problem” and can slip through the cracks. I have found that incorporating explicit cybersecurity anti-goals into our project planning has helped to clarify the overall project goals. Preventing something from happening takes effort. So our project plans now assign responsibility for anti-goals to make sure they are accomplished.

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Usama Houlia - CEO

Usama Houlila

President and Enterprise Architect
Usama Houlila is an Enterprise Architect with more than 20 years of professional experience providing technology solutions for organizations in industries including legal, public services, healthcare, finance, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. Usama is well-versed in all phases of project delivery – from initiation to closeout. His ability to see the big picture is a product of his comprehensive knowledge of hardware, software, application, and systems engineering. Usama’s myriad interests include international affairs, nutrition and health, cooking, and music. He has played the flute since childhood and is an avid runner and bicyclist who recently added swimming and triathlons to the mix. He currently manages, designs, and deploys palo alto for legal, healthcare, and financial services.