I have been a part of many “discussions” this week. Most of them around my posts that challenge conventional wisdom on things such as best practices, targets and incentives. I usually find that people conclude that organizations just aren’t using it (technology, measures, rewards, etc.) right or people are to blame (stupid people). When I suggest it may have to do something with the way we think about the design and management of work . . . the response is some variation of “no, that isn’t it.”
But that is it!
We are putting all of our resources into the wrong things. Like:
- inspection and monitoring believing they make quality services
- the belief that economies of scale will reduce costs
- the belief incentives will motivate people
- leaders need visions
- managers need targets
- technology to drive change
Businesses and government have become dysfunctional based on flawed thinking. A better way to think about the design of work . . . we reference as systems thinking. By taking people to the work and getting knowledge we can show them new ways to improve and it exposes problems to the way they currently think. It is that shift in thinking, but egos and position get in the way. The (typical) US mindset inhibits us from admitting mistakes in our thinking and moving on. One is left to ask,”How could I have been so wrong about the design and management of work?” It is to admit failure from some people’s mindset.
The Better way, you may never have heard of
The ability to discard thoughts of failure in favor of learning is a fine line. Can we not learn or was that only for when we were in college? The management paradox of new thinking may be the decider.
The above table offers a change to the fundamental thinking we have all been taught as the best way. Our only hope is to continue to improve the way we think about the design and management of work. There will always be a better way to do something.
The wonderful thing that happens as we change thinking is that we are given the ability to improve exponentially. The improvements are large and will give any organization employing it an unprecedented competitive advantage in improving service, cutting costs, improving culture and innovation opportunities.
Looking for strategic change management that gives you wholesale business improvement requires a change to the fundamental thinking about work and how it is managed.
Leave me a comment. . . I can take it! Click on comments below.
Tripp Babbitt is a speaker, blogger and consultant to service industry (private and public). His organization helps executives find a better way to make the work work. Download free from www.newsystemsthinking.com “Understanding Your Organization as a System” and gain knowledge of systems thinking or contact us about our intervention services at [email protected]. Reach him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TriBabbitt or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/trippbabbitt.
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