Waste and inefficiencies come in many forms, which is a product of the processes or methods being used. An example would look like purchasing Salesforce, but failing to train employees on how it should be used. Many of these methods were never engineered in the first place but have evolved around organizational boundaries and business rules. 

Sarah K. White from CIO writes on the subject, addressing different problem-solving methodologies used to improve processes. When processes are improved, organizations can look forward to:

1. Increasing revenue by eliminating variances and waste to help processes run more efficiently.

2. Decreasing costs by decreasing rework that consumes time & resources without adding value by removing unnecessary steps from processes.

3. Training key employees on these methodologies so they can see themselves as problem solvers in identifying the next opportunities for improvement. 

We can only fail in our improvement efforts if we hide from problems being created. Putting a bandage on each puncture will only cause more problems in the future. Therefore, it is paramount to acknowledge where processes are falling short to avoid problems to arise. This will require members or the organization to share their daily processes and will also require leadership to maintain a “non-blaming” approach.

Processes evolve over time, but our people are not necessarily the ones to blame. However, by having each member of the team discuss their daily processes, one can gather insight on struggles, friction points, and gaps within the organization. Not only will this conversation unlock a series of problems or complications to resolve, but will also empower your people to do their jobs with integrity and clarity. 

To learn more about Process Improvement and the direct impact it has on your business, read the original article by CIO here.