Connecting Operational Dots
Business functions and processes must work in harmony to ensure overall efficiency. Just as gears, springs, and cogs come together to keep a watch ticking, various teams within an organization need to mesh together for optimal business performance. In this section, we'll explore the different concepts that form the connective tissue of how your business operates as a cohesive whole.
What it Means
In this section, we're exploring aspects that, while not being specific to any single function, are crucial to ensuring that your business operates as a unified entity. Consider these as the connectors—the interlocking sections that reveal the bigger picture when all the pieces come together. We'll discuss concepts like:
Meeting Management: Meetings are about more than finding a time on the calendar and setting an agenda. Meeting management is all about ensuring that each meeting is a productive use of everyone's time.
Communication Channels: What are the formal and informal communication channels within your business? Have you set an expectation about where important dialogue should happen in your Slack channels or Confluence pages? From emails to chats to in-person interactions, choosing the right communication method for the right message can significantly impact the efficiency of your operations.
Company Culture: Culture is more than just a mission statement on a wall. Culture is what you do. It's the values, behaviors, and social norms that define your organization and influence how your teams work together.
Project Management: Regardless of the team or function, a set of shared project management principles can streamline the process, ensuring every project runs smoothly from initiation to closing. Are you okay if your product team uses agile project management and the marketing team uses waterfall? Do you want to invest in two different project management software packages?
Why it Matters
Transparency: Streamlined communication channels and effective meeting protocols promote transparency, ensuring everyone is on the same page and working towards common goals.
Coordination: Shared project management principles can simplify coordination across different departments, making it easier to manage complex, multi-team projects.
Efficiency: By fostering a nurturing company culture and implementing effective operational practices, businesses can boost efficiency, promoting not just a happier workforce, but also better business results.