So for me, the Opesproject is essentially a vehicle through which I can learn about Opessmart and their service. This is done through the stories of Opessmarts’ clients. I will also interview the staff and the people behind Opessmart.
While I have had a couple of background discussions with Opessmart Director Iain Melotte, I certainly haven’t started recording the interviews with anything like a clear picture as to what is going on. In fact, I’m flat out learning as I go along.
The effect this approach has on the Opesproject is that the record we get from the interviews with Opessmart clients, takes the form of an exploratory discussion: I don’t know what the answers are going to be before I hear them; I never really know how an Opessmart client is going to react to a question. In a way, while I understand a little about the service, I’m never quite sure what I’m going to get.
Iain provided a brief which was very clear, he said, “over eleven years, since 1998, we have been working live with clients building our understanding through robust research, product enhancement and service delivery. We have taken City Finance WA, a one man finance broker, into Opessmart: your Personal Economist with twelve employees, currently hiring and ready to launch into a National brand!”
“To help us do that right I want people to tell the truth, warts and all. This is an opportunity for the clients to speak out and for me to find out what I can do better, where we can improve, I need you to record their stories and publish the results.”
I was surprised by the frank approach so please keep this integrity in mind when you hear or read the discussions I’ve recorded. It makes them even more remarkable.
