Changing the processes that your business operates by can be a fairly
intimidating task. After all, if the supposed improvements don’t
perform in the manner that you expect them to, you may find yourself
with a less effective system than you previously had. Nicholas Calcanes
has been involved with business process improvement at many different
levels during his career and offers the following advice.
Understand the Problem
Processes should not be fixed just for the sake of doing something, so it is important to completely understand the issue before you start considering improvements. Fully analyze your processes to pinpoint the places where things go awry and then consider what you can do to solve those issues.
Do You Need Technology?
Technology has allowed for increases in effectiveness, but only when it has been used to improve upon slower processes. Consider what the process is and whether a technological solution will simply lead to the process being completed incorrectly at a faster rate. Don’t just go for the tech option just because it’s there.
Obtain Support
Once you have analyzed the existing processes, you are going to need to obtain support from senior management. This means being able to adequately explain why an issue exists and what your proposed solution can do to solve it. If you don’t have the confidence of the senior management team, this suggests that your proposed solution is not up to the standard required.
Give It Time
Nicholas Calcanes feels it is important to point out that all new business processes take time to become bedded into the culture of a company, so you need to understand this and exercise a little patience. You need to wait for everybody to understand the new processes completely before you can judge how effective they truly are.
Understand the Problem
Processes should not be fixed just for the sake of doing something, so it is important to completely understand the issue before you start considering improvements. Fully analyze your processes to pinpoint the places where things go awry and then consider what you can do to solve those issues.
Do You Need Technology?
Technology has allowed for increases in effectiveness, but only when it has been used to improve upon slower processes. Consider what the process is and whether a technological solution will simply lead to the process being completed incorrectly at a faster rate. Don’t just go for the tech option just because it’s there.
Obtain Support
Once you have analyzed the existing processes, you are going to need to obtain support from senior management. This means being able to adequately explain why an issue exists and what your proposed solution can do to solve it. If you don’t have the confidence of the senior management team, this suggests that your proposed solution is not up to the standard required.
Give It Time
Nicholas Calcanes feels it is important to point out that all new business processes take time to become bedded into the culture of a company, so you need to understand this and exercise a little patience. You need to wait for everybody to understand the new processes completely before you can judge how effective they truly are.
