Tendency to overcomplicate process improvement In the rush to make drastic changes or correct a faulty system, we often confuse overly elaborate solutions with a solid improvement plan. Without a solid understanding of how to proceed, doubt and suspicion often prevail. People are less inclined to act. After helping more than 200,000 people from Fortune 500 companies, governments, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and all kinds of organizations in between, I've discovered some common issues that arise when process improvement efforts fail.
Lack of communication is one of the pillars of “failure lists” in all categories, and this includes process improvement projects. Failure is virtually guaranteed if the justification for the project and the expected results are not communicated to everyone. Managers must link project results to tangible objectives from the start. Good communication leads to openness and transparency, and both lay the foundation for successful process improvement projects.
Without it, people lose focus and a sense of purpose. In general terms, continuous improvement seeks to change and improve business processes to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Even the most experienced process improvement professionals face problems that make them forget that they have been helping people to improve for decades. When you have a North Star guiding every project decision, you can ensure that you're improving the right processes, implementing the right technology, and setting the right course for your company's future.
Stop losing control of your processes and start gaining ground by avoiding these three mistakes. Failing to get buy-in from key stakeholders is probably the biggest obstacle for most companies looking to implement continuous improvement. Faced with a major change, an IT department will spend a lot of money on a huge process management tool and force its employees to use it, even though it's not entirely understandable to everyone. When initiating process improvement efforts, it is essential to involve the people who are part of the process.
Every small improvement creates a ripple effect that creates a culture of problem solving that you can set in motion yourself. All departments and seniority levels must work together to identify processes that need to be optimized. To ensure the success of their process improvement efforts, organizations must build a strong foundation based on truth, trust and transparency. We offer a dedicated business process management system that intelligently houses all of your company's processes, procedures, policies and documentation on a secure and easy to understand website.
Otherwise, you'll be overwhelmed by an incorrect process management tool that could prove inadequate or too complicated to use. A key element of process improvement is getting employees involved and making suggestions on how to make an operation more effective.
