This question in the Blog Title was posed by one of the readers. It never ceases to amaze me how we only react to external factors after they have happened. In my humble opinion we should always be looking to improve the Business Processes with our organisation. Business Process Improvement is not something we do to prevent an event from happening again, as it is very seldom that an identical event will happen more than once. We need to be vigilant when monitoring our processes and take the necessary steps to ensure we can identify quickly an adverse occurrence and be resourceful in correcting it.
I read an article which was published during the recession, unfortunately I cannot remember who wrote the article, defining a number of rules on how to handle the recessionary situation:
• Rule 1: Protect Your Best Customers, Products & Channels
• Rule 2: Refocus the Customer Experience Around the Value Equation
• Rule 3: Sweat Your Customer Management Assets
• Rule 4: Cut Non-value-adding Costs while Protecting Value
• Rule 5: Support & Incentivise Staff to Deliver Value
• Rule 6: Focus on the Long-term while Supporting the Short-term
These six simple rules do not just apply to recession, they apply to all organisations doing business when ever or whatever the situation. These are drivers for significant drivers for implementing a Business Process Improvement culture within a business.
There are many methodologies for analysing process and activities within an organisation with the aim to continuously improve the performance of the business and reduce waste. One of the early advocates was Edward Deming who modified Walter Stewarts’ concept of Plan, Do, and See to create the Deming Cycle (PDSA). This concept has been utilised and modified by many, to create continuous improvement cycles. There are many different methodologies available for continuous process improvement:
1. Six Sigma
2. Kaizen
3. Lean Manufacturing
4. Total Quality Management
5. Toyota Production System
6. Theory of Constraints etc.
Many of these methodologies were originally developed for manufacturing companies have been adopted for other industries. In my limited experience though the problem I have seen with many implementations of continuous improvement, it has not extended to the management level.
In one of my earlier Blogs I did touch on the Business Process Improvement Cycle (BPM is an essential part of a Continuous Performance Improvement Project). This is also an adaptation of the Deming Cycle. I would also state that in some cases, and this would depend on extent of the changes to the Business Model, it may be better to create another division and re-design the Business Processes from the beginning.