Trading Progress for Process

Companies both large and small always wrestle with things like revenue, cash flow, profitability, head count, and maybe even the P&L once in awhile. But from an abstract point of view, I see many companies I work with (and for) struggle with the concepts of progress and process – especially as it relates to business process and culture.

Think about it. Everything in a company is driven by some type of process. Whether it be the opening and sorting of mail or a complex insurance claim process – we all have processes we use and are exposed to. Thoughts of progress enter the mix when some environmental dynamic forces us to change our process. Maybe growth dictates more accountability or market consolidations force a realignment of market places. Just as in nature, change requires evolution – it requires us to progress past where we are to where we must go in order to survive; Many fall by the wayside, but enough will survive.

This, of course, is the way of things in most normal economies. But as a company grows larger, many times, a strange transformation seems to begin to occur. The ability to evolve and rapidly respond becomes diluted under an increasing sea of bureaucracy and decisions can often become relegated to simple choices based around a spreadsheet or policy manual. In essence, these afflicted companies begin to trade progress for process.

In general, having processes can bring sanity to any organization and ultimately ensure consistency. So long as the process is intended to underscore the mission and not undermine the culture, a process can be a wonderful thing. However, when form becomes more important that substance, when the process becomes ritual and religion, trading progress for process may well lead to trading in your company’s soul.

Don’t let this happen to you and your company. Fight to build and preserve a culture where people can take pride in what they do, knowing that their work makes the world a better place. Don’t forget that both progress and process are vital to any companies survival, but both should be taken in measure.

Image Courtesy of: Lewis Chaplin

Ken Stewart’s website, ChangeForge, focuses on the collision between the constantly changing worlds of business and technology in an information-centric world. Ken is also the founder of Seeking the Son. Ken is always interested in connecting; To discover the many ways you may connect with him, visit him at DandyID.