There is a problem. Nothing unusual but these things happen in every organization. In any situation; from chipping come chips? What is important is how you solve problems. “Each case is unique,” that is one answer. But when added all (cases) up; where would you look first? Or what do you think when you look at your organization. What is the area where normally the problem arises? And. "Couldn’t we have prevented this?"
This is a question without an answer. In fact it is true every situation is unique. But maybe you should check for yourself; what is the first "place" where you would look for. There are four options.
There is no business without a system these days, so the first natural place to look for would be any such a system. Any computer system, methodology that is not followed in the right sense, or any equipment that deviates because of this unique situation.
No, someone else tells me, most problems have nothing to do with a system as such. Not what is invisible and behind the black box. What is increasingly the issue, is the fact that we depend more and more on others. We face problems with interfaces and dependencies with other departments, companies, partners or suppliers. XML didn’t help us either.
Both are true, but there is a third area in which you will find most problems. Problem area #1; infrastructure. It is the glue that binds all together. The quality we sometimes forget but what spoils the party right when you do not expect it. "Seven out of ten it is infrastructure."
The last option is closest to the truth. Heavenly underestimated. But probably most problems are due to human miscommunication. The area of interpersonal relations. We talk, we discuss, we present, we tease and we try to convince. But never enough.
A simple rule; before you think you are all set and ready to go, check again and communicate.
© 2006 Hans Bool
Hans Bool is the founder of Astor White a traditional management consulting company that offers online management advice. Astor Online solves issues in hours what normally would take days.
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