It’s operational excellence, Jim, but not as we know it
At its core, operational excellence is more than just making minor changes to the way your business works. Instead, it provides a systematic approach for organizations to recognize and implement improvement opportunities wherever they may be, from process optimization to automation to greater efficiency and effectiveness.
Of course, this is easier said than done! The good news for organizations in all sectors is that the process of operational excellence is repeatable, and the tools and techniques to automate and optimize it are mature. The secret to success is to ensure the people, process, and technology pieces of the puzzle are assembled in the best way to achieve optimal performance. (You can read more in Signavio’s 7 Step Guide to Operational Excellence).
However, in a volatile operating environment, organizations with carefully-structured, systematic approach to operational excellence can still be vulnerable to new, unusual, or catastrophic events. Dealing with unexpected threats, whether it’s an unknown space/time disruption, a Borg invasion, or the entry of a new competitor into your market, requires a new way of thinking about operational excellence.
Jump to warp speed with the Enterprise (Readiness Model)
The Operational Excellence Enterprise Readiness Model holds that the organizations most responsive to the opportunities and challenges of operational excellence are those who exist in a ‘state of readiness’. Essentially, this means they are primed for action, able to quickly develop and implement strategies in response to changing circumstances, whether positive or negative.
The leaders of an organization in a state of readiness will listen to the expertise around them before making decisions, like any good starship captain. They will assemble the right people, with a mix of skills and experiences, for the right jobs, no matter if that is developing new organizational policies or beaming down to an alien planet. Organizations in a state of readiness also have their sensors set to long-range scan—that is, they are continually examining the environment around them for events and new information.
An organization making use of the Operational Excellence Enterprise Readiness Model also knows the importance of the Prime Directive—the organization’s corporate vision. By aligning any operational excellence activities with this vision, all elements within an organization can ensure they are working to achieve the same goals: To explore strange new business opportunities, seek out new products, and new markets.
Webcast: The Operational Excellence Enterprise Readiness Model
Joseph F. Paris Jr. is a recognized thought leader on operational excellence, with over 30 years of experience in international business and operations, as an entrepreneur, strategist, consultant, and speaker.
While he shares a name with the helmsman of the U.S.S Voyager, Mr. Paris is better known as the author of State of Readiness: Operational Excellence as a Precursor to Becoming a High Performance Organization. In other words, it is fair to say he has literally written the book on how organizations of all shapes and sizes can take a strategic approach to operational excellence.
To learn more, you can sign up for Mr. Paris’ exclusive Signavio webcast on the Operational Excellence Enterprise Readiness Model. The webcast will focus on how to establish a roadmap for your own operational excellence program, so it strategically aligns with your organization’s vision and priorities. If you can’t attend the webcast live on 25 October, register anyway! You’ll be sent the recorded session once it completes. Best of all, it’s free!
Create your own operational excellence star chart
If you’re ready to get started on your personal operational excellence mission, why not register for a free demonstration to see how Signavio can help? In the meantime, you can check out a few more ideas for improving your organization by connecting with Signavio at one of our upcoming events.