(The Seventh in the Series-II of ‘The 7 Mavens of SOPs’)
By Dinesh P. Bhrushundi @ dbknowledgey©A great
Hello from ᵭᵱᵬ’the मितवा’ ! ‘ᵭᵱᵬ’ is my initial, and ‘मितवा’, a Marathi acronym for Friend (मित्र), Philosopher (तत्वज्ञ) and Guide (वाटाड्या), my humble role to ‘Sit Back and Give Back’, after 4 decades of career.
Series Title: ‘7 Mavens of SOPs’ is expression for instilling some of my learnings as “seven propositions in sets of seven SOPs (norms)”, befitting the human mental capacity and attention span. This edition, the 7Stipulators Of Process-Excellence, is the ensemble of elements (ref figure) that helps establish the maturity of the processes enroute to excellence.
E1-Existence: First and foremost, this element is the availability of well-defined set of logically arrayed, feasible, repeatable, significant steps to address a particular purpose. This ‘process’ should be rather explicit than tacit at least in the lower loops of maturity spiral. The evidence of the ‘Existence’ should be unambiguous and effortlessly perceptible.
E2-Enoughness: That done, it is important to ascertain the adequacy of the process- its ability to meet the very objective it has been drafted for. A quick review of ‘Responsibility (for Process), Resources, References, Relationship, Results and Requirements (of Customers) will aid to determine the Enoughness.
E3-Education: As it is everywhere else, the Education is a key stipulator of the process maturity too. The records of training and Learning-Effectiveness is the right source to assess this stipulator. A dialogue with few relevant team members or a multilogue with the group including process owner(s), supplier(s) and customer(s) will reveal the reality by itself.
E4-Execution: Centrally positioned on the pyramid, the stipulator of ‘Execution’ is kingpin for the success of the Process-excellence journey. Having done very well in the previous three, it will be futile if this element is not in tandem. It is very crucial to carefully check the deployment of the process for the depth and breadth across the organization. Just a watchful walk around and the smell of workplace will tell the right level of maturity, from enforcement to engagement.
E5-Efficacy: The element of Efficacy has three dimensions governing Process-performance: First, Effectiveness measures to deliver the intended objectives; Second, Efficiency measures to drive resource optimization. Thus, there should be a balanced blend of these measures. The third is Enablement of results by processes to demonstrate causal relationship between them, rather than a casual, occasional, act of God type. Hence all the In-process measure (lead indicators) should collectively induce the End-Process measures (Lag Indicators).
E6-Examination: The scheduled check-ups keep the system fit for functioning. Similarly, the processes’ health, needs to be reassured by their regular Examination. The reality check is essential equally for their tenacity and pliability. The examination can be a combination of dip stick and deep dive system-scans and vertical and/or horizontal sample-scrutiny. The parameters can be ‘Six ‘R’s’ in E2, along with Recency and Relevance viz a viz the changes in the eco-system and it’s environment.
E7-Enrichment: Last but not the least, the very lever of excellence, is Enrichment. How the learnings earned, both from, the internal experience and external exploration, are accumulated and amalgamated persistently into the processes, is the cornerstone of this element. This is the tipping point where the cycle although culminates but starts again from E1 to continue eternally.
Enterprise’s Expedition of Excellence is an endless endeavour in which processes are imperative. However, it is equally important to appreciate that the processes are means to achieve an end and not the end by themselves. Defining and refining processes is fine to the extent they are ensuring enablement of effective and efficient results lest arises the situation of ‘Operation successful – Patient dead’.
I am enthused to extend this edition to you all and hope it will make an enlightening read.
Bestest.
Comments