Einstein once said, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” I take this idea to heart every time I analyze a problem. Be it a business solution, or a personal dilemma. Any creative creation can benefit from this idea.
For example, a fiction author does not submit his first draft to the publisher. Of course they revisit their work to ensure that their story is complete and consistent. An author also tries to edit their work to remove unnecessary content. They strive to remove any unneeded words that add length without enriching the story.
I believe this effect especially applies to workflow implementations.
Some people implement their workflow system as to mirror their existing day-to-day manual procedures. “We’ve been doing it this way for years”, they may say. This attitude may result in a deliverable that is bloated with unnecessary steps.
I’ve asked customers to create a step-by-step list of their current process. Several procedures include a useless step. A report may be printed – only to be immediately discarded. A data entry step that must be completed; however, the data is never used.
Part of this is due to a natural resistance to change. However, some workflow implementation may be improved by taking a different look at the process. For each activity ask yourself (or the customer), “what would happen if we skipped this step?”
Anyone can throw software (and money) at a problem and hope to streamline their process. However, don’t forget to take the time to look for ways to simplify your work day.
Filed under: Albert Einstein Quotes, BPM, Business Process & Workflow, Consulting, Data Capture, Data Entry, Keep it simple, Resistant to Change, Workflow
