Imagine you are left outside, in the dark and wondering what to do…
Yes, yes…! I know this occurs frequently given that improvement problems arise time and time again; however, I need you to imagine you really are outside, at night.
You have a super powerful gun. Aim the imaginary weapon at the Moon. Fire the weapon. Watch patiently with your eye glued to a telescope while you wait for the impact. You will have a very, very long time to wait. By the time your bullet gets to where you aimed, the Moon will be long gone!
A simple metaphor perhaps but one that points to a key reason why so many corporate transformation / business improvement efforts fail to hit the target. An issue or opportunity presents itself today; an action plan is put in motion to fix today’s problem at some point in the future (days, weeks, months...?).
Time passes, by the time the improvement is ready to be deployed into the operating fabric of the business; the business is no longer as it was when the original need for the improvement arose. The reason why the improvement was necessary may still be out there but the business the improvement was meant to improve is not there now, it has moved on!
Linear, insular business improvement thinking creates a curious perspective that assumes the business will stand still until this requirement is addressed. Classical Project Management Techniques actually worsen the effect of this type of thinking upon the business; in other words, business requirements are handled according to project management centric dogma rather than a business centric viewpoint.
If you incorporate ‘moving target’ thinking into how improvements are envisioned, planned and executed; you will lessen the frequency and severity of issues and problems that arise from project management techniques that require you to shoot directly at the Moon.
To find out how TLIR can help you hit the Moon every time, call or e-mail to schedule an exploratory conversation with John Bolden, TLIR Founder.
Keynote Extract
Shooting at the Moon, John Bolden, TLIR Group
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