Getting process right is hard. While we might know what not to do, identify what to do is challenging and difficult. In a world where we accept that the right answer to process is “it depends,” we need to get clear and specific about how we can figure out what it depends on. Identify the questions to ask and the approach to take is challenging. Following it is even harder. Doing both is essential.
This past Saturday was my sixth time participating in the Ride for the Breath of Life in Edmonton, in support of cystic fibrosis. It’s a cause I care about deeply, and a rewarding event to participate in. Thanks to all who sponsored me.
Maturity models as a concept have become incredibly popular. We use them as cover to justify any number of improvement efforts. But how we use them is often misguided, dangerous and downright wrong. Maturity as a concept can be useful, but we need to understand what it means and how it should be applied.
Process needs to work. To work, it needs to be relevant. That means that what we implement needs to be contextually appropriate, relevant and accepted. Cookie-cutter solutions don’t work here. What works depends. But the real question is, “what does it depend on?”
I’m a process geek. You might safely assume, then, that I would be a fan of “best practices.” You would be very wrong. Best practices generally aren’t. Unlike the promised intent, there is usually more than one best way to proceed in a given situation. We ignore that at our peril.
A personal confession: my professional career has been dedicated to process. While I appreciate the value of process, I am also challenged by how it is often implemented. It’s easy to ask for everything. It’s a lot harder to focus on what is essential and valuable.
Organizations invest significant resources in training. Evaluating and assessing the impact of that investment is of more than theoretical importance. Part of assessing impact involves considering whether participants are able to successfully take on board and apply the principles being taught. Of far greater importance is whether or not they feel that they are allowed to.
Process is an essential dimension of project management. Its the essence of our standards. It’s the basis of how we think about building organizational capabilities. An essential belief underlying project management maturity is that better process leads to better results. And yet, the way process is implemented is often… less than optimal. That’s why project…
Continue reading »
How we think about change is stuck in the past. Judging by the way we organize, there are those who would like to keep it that way. We need to think differently about how we organize for change. And we need to change our organizations.
Miss en place is a delightful term. It comes from cooking, and is the basis of preparation for a chef. Meaning “everything in its place,” it highlights the value of being ready. It also highlights the value of actually getting started.
