A Little Bit of Structure Can Go a Long Way

It never ceases to amaze me how casual some businesses are when it comes to organising the way their business operates. It is true, a little bit of structure can go a long way.

There is a big difference between a rigid, bureaucratic, organisation that can't flex or adapt to changing customer demands and one that is loose and wild. Finding a balance is an essential task for most businesses.

With a little bit of structure you can:

Run meetings with purpose, that generate the right kinds of actions.
Manage results, by ensuring that the inputs and outputs of your processes are 'fit for purpose'.
Ensure that your teams know what they are doing and are on track with their performance.
Deliver the right level of quality products and services for your customers.

... and more.

Without a little bit of structure you can find yourself getting into a knot, not entirely sure where you are, where you are going to or how to approach the journey.

I like flexibility, but I like it around a structure of some description. When I have managed manufacturing operations in the past it was an integral part of achieving the results that we produced. For my clients it has often been the missing step to help their talented staff to achieve something meaningful.

For you? Is it worth a few minutes reflection to scan your business and ask the question "would a little more structure help improve our results?"

Giles

About the author Giles Johnston is a Chartered Engineer who specialises in helping businesses to grow and improve through better business processes. Giles is also the author of Business Process Re-Engineering and creator of the 'Making It Happen' continuous improvement toolkit.

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