The Challenge of Processes

Ann Michaels, over at Manage To Change, offers some great insight into the challenge of processes.

Her assertions?

• Process and rules applied correctly are invaluable. They insure resources are allocated effectively. They create consistency. They allow everyone to know what they’re supposed to do and when and how to do it.
• In order to accomplish all of this, they’re often very inflexible.
• Process is created to support specific values and assumptions. When those change, the processes that support them must change as well. Otherwise, they will exert pressure to keep things exactly the way they are.

BOTTOMLINE: "What can you do about it? When evaluating the potential impact of change, don’t forget to evaluate established processes and rules. If your change effort is challenging values or “best practices,” chances are, it’s going to be in conflict with some of your established processes. Identify them. Highlight where and how the conflict exists. Decide how you’re going to handle it."