What is low cost ($) and high reward ($$$), uses existing assets and resources, and yields large improvements? Process Realignment!

What is low cost ($) and high reward ($$$), uses existing assets and resources, and yields large improvements? Process Realignment!

“But it lacks glam and glitz!” you say …

You are completely correct! This lacks the glam and glitz of a new tech app or widget … unless you think higher profits and large payouts also lack glam and glitz!

Poor processes and procedures eat away the benefits of your tech improvements daily.

If you want to maximize the benefits and profits, you have to pair tech improvements with process improvements – process realignment.

Where does the pairing between tech improvements and process improvements break down each day? Well, … it breaks down when …

• Tech improvements are not fully and completely implemented across the organization,
• Tech improvements are implemented, but not used because of lack of awareness, or poor or incomplete training,
• Client deliverables lack standardization and each deliverable is ad hoc or customized,
• Processes and procedures lack standardization across the organization, and/or
• Processes and procedures are poorly and weakly designed.

Ouch! That hurts!

How do we fix the pairing between tech improvements and process improvements to maximize profits and to increase the payouts? This takes a two-pronged approach to achieve results … we realign processes as follows:

• On the tech side …

1. Complete the tech adoption across the entire organization. No “If’s, And’s, or But’s!” Make it complete and uniform.
2. Pair the tech adoption across the organization with complete and thorough training for each and every end-user.

• On the process side …

1. Create and implement uniform, standardized processes and procedures.
2. Create uniform, standardized client deliverables for all clients, minimizing the exceptions wherever possible – more on this below.
3. Provide strong training on processes and expectations to all staff.
4. Create procedure manuals and process checklist for all tasks across the organization.

• Then … monitor, measure, evaluate, and modify as needed when weaknesses or shortcomings are discovered.

“But, wait just one minute! We cannot standardize our client deliverables because we operate in an environment where each client gets a unique set of deliverables!”

Actually, the only part of the deliverables that need to be customized are the final products, reports, and services that are delivered to the clients – not the processes that create them.

Too many organizations use customized processes to create customized deliverables, and end up maintaining multiple processes, none of which is optimized to produce the best result!

Hmmm, … tell me more …

What is required to maximize profits and to increase the payouts? The following are needed to reap the real benefits …

• Firm commitment on the part of management to make continuous, long-term improvement in the organization,
• Ongoing support of initiatives and efforts invested to make improvements by management,
• Prioritizing and messaging across the organization that these changes are desired and that cooperation and help is expected, and
• Making available the people and other resources, and the time needed to make these improvements.

What will the benefits of process realignment be?

• Faster and more accurate completion of client deliverables,
• Greater capacity within the existing staff for larger volumes of client work,
• Fewer client complaints and higher client satisfaction resulting in less rework, and
• Larger profits and payouts from the organization.

Do you still think process realignment lacks the glam and glitz?

Let me know, please.

Best, 

Todd Krause

[email protected]

PS: If you are an Indianapolis professional I'd be glad to connect via email to discuss how I can help you!