Determining where to start

We don’t belie[that one size fits all.  This means determining what approach to take, including where to start and what to aim for, is an essential first step.  Factors include culture, what current approaches are in play, the objectives of the organization, the rate of change desired, and who is leading the transformation.  Part of this first step must also include getting management on board if they are not already. By doing a series of interviews, value stream mapping and creating a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threat analysis) we provide insights on what next steps should be.

Tracking progress

It is important to be able to track progress being made.  This is as much to align efforts as it is to actually see the progress being made.  Having alignment on what is being attempted to achieve is a critical part of the transformation.  The figure below illustrates four areas we measure.

Starting and maintaining flexibility

People need concrete frameworks as a foundation but can’t start by doing everything possible. Although companies are unique, there are many patterns of challenge and opportunity. By taking advantage of these we don’t have to reinvent the wheel while still providing a tailored approach. Starting with a few key practices and adding to them provides a step by step approach that is workable and sustainable. While buy-in across the organization is ideal, it often is not available. So we suggest starting where one can and moving forward in a continuous fashion.